A Comparative Evaluation of The Antibacterial Properties of Diode Laser and Grape Seeds Extract as Cavity Disinfecting Agents against Streptococcus Mutans and their Effects on the Bond Strength to Glass Ionomer Restorative Material – an In-vitro

Abstract

Dental caries is one of the most common preventable childhood diseases (1) which occurs due to a dynamic process of demineralization and remineralization of enamel and dentin. This process stems from the production of organic acids by the cariogenic bacteria (2). One common form of tooth decay is early childhood caries (ECC) which is characterized by the occurrence of one or more decayed, missed teeth due to caries, or filled tooth surfaces in any of primary teeth in a child under the age of six. It results from tooth-adherent bacteria that can be transmitted vertically from mother or caregiver to the child or horizontally from one child to another while sharing toothbrushes or drinking from the same cup or bottle (3). The new era of minimum invasive dentistry which is also called micro-dentistry, aimed to keep teeth in function as much as possible. It advocates for maximum conservation of the remaining tooth structure rather than the old concept of G.V. Black; which supported the removal of sound dental tissue to prevent the occurrence of dental caries. However, it was found that placement of amalgam restoration after cavity preparation that follows the G.V. Black’s concept, does not eliminate the “repeat restoration cycle” (4,5).