Open AccessInfluence of low direct electric currents and chlorhexidine upon human dental biofilms
Author(s) -
Lasserre Jérôme F.,
Toma Selena,
Bourgeois Thomas,
El Khatmaoui Hajar,
Marichal Estelle,
Brecx Michel C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.464
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2057-4347
DOI - 10.1002/cre2.34
Subject(s) - biofilm , chlorhexidine , antimicrobial , antiseptic , dentistry , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , colony forming unit , bacteria , medicine , biology , genetics , organic chemistry
Dental biofilms have been widely associated with biological complications of oral implants. Currently, no consensus exists regarding the most reliable anti‐infective approach to treat peri‐implantitis. This study aimed to investigate whether low direct electric currents (DC) could influence chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2% antimicrobial efficacy against human dental biofilms. To support biofilm accumulation, discs made with machined titanium (Ti) or hydroxyapatite (HA) were used. Five volunteers wore during 24 h an intraoral thermoformed splint on which ten specimens were bonded. Biofilms were then collected and treated ex vivo. During each antimicrobial experiment ( N = 20 replicates), two modalities of treatment (CHX/PBS = control groups and CHX/PBS+5mA = test groups) were tested ( n = 5 discs each) and the number of viable bacteria evaluated in LogCFU/mL at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 min. The proportion of killed bacteria was also estimated and compared statistically at each time point between control and test groups. CHX+/−5mA induced a mean viability reduction around 90–95% after 5 min of treatment whatever the surface considered (Ti/HA). A significant difference regarding the bactericidal effect was noted on Ti surfaces after 0.5, 1 and 2 min in favor of the CHX+5mA modality when compared to CHX alone ( p < 0.05). PBS+5mA also had a certain antimicrobial effect (58%) after 5 min on Ti surfaces. This effect was significantly higher than that observed with PBS (25%) ( p < 0.05). This study showed that low DC (5mA) can have an antibiofilm effect and are also able to enhance chlorhexidine 0.2% efficacy against human dental biofilms grown on titanium surfaces.