The preventive/therapeutic effect of CO2 laser and MI Paste Plus® on intact and demineralized enamel against Streptococcus mutans (In Vitro Study)

Dhuha H Almarsomy; Fadia A Al-Khayat; Lamis A Al-Taee

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20310

The preventive/therapeutic effect of CO₂ laser and MI Paste Plus® on intact and demineralized enamel against Streptococcus mutans (In Vitro Study)

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 23;9(10):e20310. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20310. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Dhuha H Almarsomy¹, Fadia A Al-Khayat², Lamis A Al-Taee¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Conservative and Aesthetic Dentistry, Baghdad College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
² Department of Basic Sciences, Baghdad College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of CO₂ laser and MI paste plus on intact and demineralized enamel surfaces and their impact on bacterial adhesion. Methods: 160 enamel slabs were prepared and randomly allocated into two main groups; sound and demineralized enamel (n = 80 per group), in which specimens were immersed in a demineralizing solution (50 mM acetic acid, pH 4.5) for 72 h at 37 °C. Each group was further divided into four subgroups (n = 20); the control (un treated surfaces), surfaces treated by CO₂ laser, MI paste plus (Recaldent™, GC corporation/Germany), and those received a combination of CO₂ and MI paste plus. Streptococcus Mutans biofilm was isolated, quantified, and then applied on treated enamel surfaces and incubated anaerobically for 24 h and then quantified by colony-forming unit (CFU). Meanwhile, surface changes were assessed by Vickers microhardness and Scanning Electron Microscope combined with Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Results: The combined use of CO₂ laser followed by MI paste plus significantly (p < 0.000) enhanced surface microhardness of sound and demineralized enamel with a significant reduction in bacterial counts. However, each technique alone was beneficial as they exhibited higher microhardness with lower bacterial viability in comparison to the control. The treatment of demineralized enamel surfaces with MI paste significantly reduced the number of bacterial colonies with the presence of dispersed mineral deposits over the surface.

Conclusions: The combined use of CO₂ laser and MI paste plus was effective as a preventive and/or therapeutic measures in enhancing surface properties of enamel and reducing the bacterial viability.

Keywords: CO2 laser; Demineralized enamel; MI Paste Plus®; Microhardness; Streptococcus mutans.