An in Vitro Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Three Disinfectants and Three Time Intervals in Controlling the Growth of Candida Albicans on Heat Polymerized Acrylic Resin

Abstract

Various disinfection modalities are available for dental materials; however, acrylic resins are heat sensitive materials and so cannot be autoclaved. Chemical disinfection has immerged as a safe alternative that is least likely to cause severely detrimental changes to the physical properties of the acrylic resin and be simultaneously potent enough to control the growth of Candida albicans which is the most common cause of denture stomatitis and other inflammatory conditions of the oral mucosa following denture us. Recent research has suggested use of Peracetic Acid on acrylic resins, however the potential of the acid at low concentrations in comparison with commonly available commercial chlorhexidine has not been examined at time intervals that simulate clinical, laboratory and household constraints. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of 01% and 0.25% peracetic acid in comparison with 2% chlorhexidine at 5-minute, 10 minute and 8-hour immersion in the chemical solutions of acrylic resin specimens contaminated with Candida Albicans. The percentage elimination of C. albicans with 0.1% peracetic acid and 0.25% peracetic acid was 100% after immersion in disinfectant at every time point. While, the percentage elimination of C. albicans with ICPA Hexidine mouthwash was 60%, 70% and 100% after immersion in disinfectant for 5miutes, 10minutes and 8 hours respectively. The difference in reduction of Candida Albicans as compared to control group was significant (p<0.05) in ICPA Hexidine mouthwash, 0.1% peracetic acid and 0.25% peracetic acid.Acrylic resin samples subjected to 0.1% and 0.25% peracetic acid depicted higher levels of disinfection in comparison with ICPA Hexidine (2% chlorhexidine) following all three intervals of time. It can therefore be concluded that peracetic acid even at low concentrations is capable of controlling the proliferation of Candida albicans even at short immersion time intervals.