An Invitro Comparative Evaluation of Compressive Strength and Antibacterial Activity of Conventional GIC and Hydroxyapatite Reinforced GIC in Different Storage Media

GIC is the most commonly used restorative material in pediatric dentistry since it has got various advantages like fluoride release, anticariogenic property and chemical adhesion to tooth but a major disadvantage is its contraindication in posterior teeth because of poor mechanical properties. The purpose of this study is a modest attempt to explore the influence of the addition of 8% hydroxyapatite to conventional GIC on its compressive strength when immersed in different storage media and antibacterial activity. One hundred and twenty six pellets of the specific dimension of 6 x 4 mm were prepared and divided into 6 groups and were immersed in deionized water, artificial saliva, lactic acid solution respectively for three hours everyday over 30 days test period. The compressive strength was measured by using a universal testing machine (AG-50kNG) at cross head of 1mm(2)/min and strength was determined after 1 day, 7 days, 30 days respectively and the antibacterial activity evaluated against Streptococcus mutans strain in brain heart infusion broth using serial dilution method. Group wise comparisons were made by one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc Tukey's test, Intergroup comparison was done with Mann-Whitney test. GIC±HAp showed significantly greater antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans when compared to GIC group. There was no statistically significant change in the compressive strength among the groups except for group 3 and group 6 when immersed in lactic acid had shown significant difference at the end of 24 hours. The addition of 8% hydroxyapatite to GIC showed marked increased in the antibacterial activity of the conventional GIC against caries initiating organism without much increase in the compressive strength of the GIC when immersed in the different storage media.