Advisory Committee Chair
Paul D Eleazer
Advisory Committee Members
Noel K Childers
Amjad Javed
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2018
Degree Name by School
Master of Science in Dentistry (MScD) School of Dentistry
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effects of three novel experimental antibiotics on monospecies (Enterococcus faecalis) and polymicrobial (mixed) endodontic biofilms. Materials and Methods: Biofilms containing pure Enterococcus faecalis, as well as biofilms derived from mixed bacterial samples aspirated from inside the pulp spaces of necrotic human teeth, were grown onto slices of human dental in vitro. Biofilm formation capability was verified with SEM. The treatment groups consisted of 3 novel experimental antibiotics. 8.25% sodium hypochlorite and sterile saline were used as the controls. The biofilms were investigated with live/dead fluorochrome staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: The full strength sodium hypochlorite was capable of removing the biofilms in their entirety. The novel experimental antibiotics were shown to significantly remove bacteria under different exposure parameters, however they could not completely kill all microbes within these biofilms. Conclusion: The novel experimental antibiotics were not capable of completely removing monospecies (Enterococcus faecalis) or polymicrobial (mixed) endodontic biofilms grown on slices of human dentin.
Recommended Citation
Rhodes, Steven, "The Effect of Novel Antibiotic Compounds on Endodontic Biofilms" (2018). All ETDs from UAB. 2821.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/2821