Pulp Therapy
Kaushik Mukherjee, DDS PhD (he/him/his)
General Dentist
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Los Angeles, California, United States
Dhiraj Kumar, PhD
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Robert S. S. Jones, DDS PhD
Associate Professor
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Robert S. S. Jones, DDS PhD
Associate Professor
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Purpose: This study evaluated the antibacterial properties of a potential pulpotomy medicament, Afrin (Oxymetazoline (OXY) with Benzalkonium chloride (BKC)), against two native oral bacterial species: Streptocococcus mutans and Neisseria mucosa.
Methods: Using a well-described (disc diffusion) antibiotic susceptibility test, S.mutans was grown on brain-heart infusion (BHI) agar plates (with 0.5% glucose) and exposed to OXY (0.05%), BKC (0.025%), Afrin (OXY-0.05% with BKC), Ferric sulfate (20%), and deionized water (DI). The zones of inhibition (ZOI) were recorded after 20hr of incubation at 37±0.5 °C under anerobic conditions, and the data analyzed using 1-way ANOVA (n=13). Antibacterial broth inhibition test was conducted by adding the test samples in nutrient broth (0.5% glucose) containing N.mucosa at 37±0.5 °C in an aerobic chamber. pH and OD (at 600nm) measurements were recorded at defined time intervals (0,1,3,5 and 20hr).
Results: In the disc diffusion test, Afrin and BKC had the largest ZOI measuring 12.6±0.8 and 12±0.9 mm respectively, indicating antibacterial activity. Ferric sulfate demonstrated a small ZOI, while Oxymetazoline and DI (negative controls) had no ZOI. Antibacterial broth test showed stable antibacterial effects (OD and pH levels) for samples containing Afrin (0.01%) and BKC (0.025%) for upto 20 hours. DI and Oxymetazoline treated samples showed an elevation in OD indicating a rise in bacterial count and a concurrent drop in pH.
Conclusion: Afrin demonstrates antibacterial properties, likely from the addition of BKC, against abundant oral bacteria found in pulpal infection. Afrin’s additional hemostatic properties may have important clinical implications in pulpal management of primary teeth.