Bactericidal eradication from carious lesions of prepared abutments by an antibacterial temporary cement.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to observe the antibacterial potential of polycarboxylate temporary cement containing a mixture of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and cefaclor on carious lesions of prepared abutments that were designed to leave caries on the abutments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Antibacterial efficacy was estimated in vitro and in vivo by measuring bacterial recovery from the lesions. Bacteria counts ranged from 10(4) to 10(7) both in vitro (nine samples) and in vivo (five samples) in time-zero samples, just before the application of the antibacterial cement. RESULTS: No bacteria were recovered from carious lesions in vitro (six samples) or in vivo (four samples) after the lesions were covered by the antibacterial temporary cement. For the remaining samples, some bacteria (5 to 80 counts per sample) were recovered, with one notable exception in which marginal leakage provided a bacteria count of 10(3). Bacteria counts ranging from 10(3) to 10(5) occurred in carious lesions covered by temporary cement without antibacterial agents, which indicated that temporary cement alone was not a potent disinfectant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that the antibacterial temporary cement can be useful for eradicating bacteria from carious lesions of prepared abutments.