Microbiological aspects of conservative treatment of periodontal disease using gel-based preparations.

Unlabelled: The results of epidemiological studies as well as statistical data show that in recent years the dental morbidity rate in the world has remained stable at a high level. Inflammatory diseases of periodontal tissues, in particular generalized forms of periodontitis, reach 80% in the world. The tendency of increasing the prevalence rate of these diseases in Ukraine, 60-99%, is being observed nowadays.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial activity of three gel-based medicinal products, being widely used in periodontology: Abigel, an herbal remedy, containing fir oil and oak bark extract; Fitoron, which contains oak bark extract, and President gel with chlorhexidine.

Materials And Methods: Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, belonging to different taxonomic groups: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Proteus vulgaris ATCC 4636, Candida albicans ATCC 885-653, were as a substrate for further examinations. Preparing the suspensions of microorganisms with a defined optical density of microbial cells was executed using the turbidity standard (0.5 McFarland standard). The Densi-La-Meter device (made by "PLIVA-Lachema", Czech Republic; wavelength = 540 nm) was used. The suspension was prepared in accordance with the device guidance and the information sheet on innovations in the health care system No. 163-2006 "Standardization of preparation of microbial suspensions".

Results: The highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus is being observed in President gel with chlorhexidine (24 mm and 25 mm), followed by Abigel gel (20, 21, 22 mm) and Fitoron has the minimum activity (17 and 18 mm). The growth zone of Bacillus subtilis is maximally inhibited by President gel with chlorhexidine (25 and 26 mm), Fitoron's inhibition zone is of 23 and 24 mm, and in the last place is Abigel gel - 20 and 21 mm. President gel with chlorhexidine has a pronounced antifungal effect with the inhibition zone of 20, 21 and 22 mm, Fitoron's inhibition zone is of 19 and 20 mm, and one of Abigel gel - of 16 and 17 mm. Concerning Enterococcus faecalis, the highest activity was established in President gel with chlorhexidine (the inhibition zone of 22 and 23 mm), Abigel gel had inhibition zone of 20 and 21 mm, whereas one of Fitoron was of 18 and 19 mm. Haemophilus influenzae was maximally influenced by President gel with chlorhexidine with the inhibition zone of 19 and 20 mm, Abigel gel caused the growth inhibition by 17 and 18 mm, and the lowest growth inhibition was of Fitoron - 16 mm. President gel with chlorhexidine (19, 20, 21 mm) and Abigel gel (19 mm) had almost the same influence on the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes, whereas these figures of Fitoron were 16 and 17 mm. Abigel gel had a pronounced activity against Streptococcus mutans with the inhibition zone of 20 mm, one of President gel with chlorhexidine was of 19 and 20 mm, and of Fitoron - 17 and 18 mm. The growth of Neisseria sp was maximally inhibited by President gel with chlorhexidine (18, 19, 20 mm), in the second place was Abigel gel (18, 19 mm) and the lowest results were of Fitoron (16, 17 mm).

Conclusions: President gel with chlorhexidine, Fitoron and Abigel gel have pronounced antimicrobial properties as to the testing cultures of microorganisms under study. Abigel is an effective method of choice in the conservative treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases.