Effect of enamel microabrasion on bacterial colonization

Purpose: To determine if microabraded surfaces inhibit Streptococcus mutans colonization. Materials and Methods: Ten extracted molars were obtained and sectioned in half mesio-distally. The mesial side was treated with microabrasion (PREMA Compound). The distal surface was designated as the control site. A plastic tube was secured on each surface with resin composite, exposing a surface of 13.2 mm². S. mutans 10499 was cultured in TSB-YE supplemented with 5% sucrose and 2.5% glucose was added to each secured site in addition to 50 μl of cell suspension. Samples were incubated in a 5% CO₂ chamber for 7 days at 37°C. Samples were taken from each site, incubated with dextranase (75 μg 1ml), sonicated, and vortexed to disrupt cellular aggregates as much as possible. Samples were then plated on Mitis-Salivarius agar using a spiral plating system. Enumeration of numbers of colonizing bacteria was achieved following standard spiral plating system methodology. Results: The mean for the microabraded group was 1.12 × 10² cfu/tooth and for the control it was 1.15 ± 10⁴. Analyzine the data revealed a significant difference (P= 0.0188).