Effect of herbal ingredient toothpastes on resin composites' surfaces and their antimicrobial activities.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of herbal toothpastes compared to chemical toothpastes on restorative materials' structure and antimicrobial effects.

METHODS

Four experimental herbal toothpastes and one chemical toothpaste (positive control group) were tested. Microhardness values, weights, and volumes of samples formed with dental composites were recorded before and after brushing. Minimal inhibitory concentration and agar well diffusion tests were used to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of toothpastes on contaminated surfaces. After brushing the samples with Streptococcus mutans plaque, colony counts were made as CFU/ml, and plaque inhibition was monitored by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) examination. The data obtained were evaluated statistically.

RESULTS

The study's results showed a statistically significant change in the microhardness, weight, and volume values of dental composites used in both the anterior and posterior regions. In the antimicrobial activity evaluation results, plaque inhibition was detected in the FE-SEM images of the composite blocks where herbal toothpastes were used.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results showed a statistically significant change in the microhardness, weight, and volume values of dental composites used in both the anterior and posterior regions. In the antimicrobial activity evaluation results, plaque inhibition was detected in the field emission scanning electron microscope images of the composite blocks where herbal toothpastes were used.