Open AccessTopical Effect of a Medically Prescribed Pediatric Antibiotic on Dental Biofilm: A Cross-Over, In Situ Study
Author(s) -
Viviane Santos da Silva Pierro,
Dennis Carvalho Ferreira,
Hugo Emiliano de Jesus,
Alexandre Soares Rosado,
Ronir Raggio Luiz,
Kátia Regietto dos Santos,
Lucianne Cople Maia
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0055558
Subject(s) - biofilm , sucrose , dental plaque , streptococcus mutans , amoxicillin , microbiology and biotechnology , crossover study , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , chemistry , antibiotics , medicine , placebo , biology , bacteria , food science , pathology , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics , alternative medicine
Objective This study aimed to investigate the possible topical effect of a broad-spectrum antibiotic on dental biofilm formed in situ in the absence or presence of sucrose. Methods A crossover study was conducted in three phases of 14 days each, during which 11 volunteers wore palatal devices containing 6 enamel blocks covered with meshes to allow biofilm formation. Dental blocks were extraorally submitted to a 20% sucrose solution at three different frequencies of exposure (0, 3 and 8 times/day), and to a suspension of amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (A/CP) or a placebo (P) suspension at an 8-hour time interval application regimen. On the 14 th day of each phase, biofilms were collected for microbiological (conventional culture) and molecular (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis – DGGE) analyses. Results In the absence of sucrose exposure (SE) and at the 3-time daily frequency, dental biofilms treated with A/CP showed lower total biofilm weight and lower counts of total microbiota than the ones treated with P ( p >0.05). A/CP presented higher counts of Candida spp. when compared with P in the presence of SE, especially at the 8-time daily frequency ( p <0.05). Considering the DGGE analysis, the mean number of bands was higher for P ( p >0.05), regardless of SE. However, DGGE profiles demonstrated large interindividual variability. Conclusion Both conventional culture and DGGE have demonstrated some differences on total microbiota of dental biofilms when exposed to the A/CP or P suspensions, mainly in the absence of sucrose, which suggests a possible topical effect of the sugar-free A/CP suspension on dental biofilm.