Efeito do plasma de baixa temperatura e pressão no biofilme oral formado sobre esmalte em um modelo in situ

Abstract

The Low temperature plasma is a promising technology that has being studied in dentistry for its various properties, among them, for their ability to destroy bacteria present in mature biofilm and also destroying the polymeric matrix of oral biofilms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of argon plasma on oral biofilms formed in situ and also verify if this treatment damages the structure of the treated enamel. For that, twenty-two volunteers used palatine intraoral devices containing 6 to bovine enamel slabs that were dripped sucrose 10 times a day with 10% sucrose. The intraoral period was 7 days. At the 7th day, enamel slabs were treated for 5 minutes with plasma, argon flow, 0.12% chlorhexidine, or 0.89% NaCl solution. Thus, biofilms samples were collected, weighed, serial diluted and plated in culture medium for the growth of total microorganisms, total streptococci, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. In order to analyze whether the treatments damaged the enamel structure, the slabs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Low temperature plasma treatment showed a significant reduction in the viability of the total microorganisms (p <0.001), total streptococcus (p = 0.037) and mutans streptococci (p = 0.004). Argon flow also significantly reduced the mutans streptococci counts. The plasma treatment did not influence on the viability of the lactobacilli under the conditions tested (p = 0.497). SEM revealed smooth and homogeneous regions on the enamel surface, unobserved topographical differences between the glazes in biofilms subjected to different treatments. In Raman spectroscopy, we identified four major bands present in the inorganic phase: 324 (V1), 582 (V2), 960 (V3) e 1045 (V4) cm-1 and other 4 identified in the organic layer 1448 (V5), 1465 (V6), 1653 (V7) 2943(V8) cm-1. No statistical differences in the Raman spectra were observed for enamel of different treatments. In conclusion, the plasma was effective in reducing viable bacteria present in mature oral biofilms produced in situ and not alter in the enamel surface treated biofilms.