Antimicrobial and physicochemical properties of experimental light curing composites with alkali-substituted calcium phosphate fillers.

Objective: The antimicrobial and physicochemical properties of experimental light curing composites prepared with fillers made of mechanically activated alkali-substituted calcium phosphates like CaKPO(4), CaNaPO(4) or Ca(2)KNa(PO(4))(2) were compared with a commercial silane-modified cristobalite filler.

Methods: The antimicrobial properties were tested using Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus and a clinically isolated plaque mixture. The potential for reducing bacteria growth on modified composites was determined using the proliferation reagent WST-1, which enables the measurement of metabolic activity and therefore the colonization with living bacteria.