Antibacterial Properties of Calcium Fluoride-Based Composite Materials:<i>In Vitro</i>Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate antibacterial activity of composite materials modified with calcium fluoride against cariogenic bacteria <i>S. mutans</i> and <i>L. acidophilus</i>. One commercially available conventional light-curing composite material containing fluoride ions (F2) and two commercially available flowable light-curing composite materials (Flow Art and X-Flow) modified with 1.5, 2.5, and 5.0 wt% anhydrous calcium fluoride addition were used in the study. Composite material samples were incubated in 0.95% NaCl at 35°C for 3 days; then dilution series of <i>S. mutans</i> and <i>L. acidophilus</i> strains were made from the eluates. Bacteria dilutions were cultivated on media afterwards. Colony-forming unit per 1 mL of solution (CFU/mL) was calculated. Composite materials modified with calcium fluoride highly reduced (<i>p</i> < 0.001) bacteria growth compared to commercially available composite materials containing fluoride compounds. The greatest reduction in bacteria growth was observed for composite materials modified with 1.5% wt. CaF₂. All three tested composite materials showed statistically greater antibacterial activity against <i>L. acidophilus</i> than against <i>S. mutans</i>.