Journal of Dental Research, Vol 64, 1356-1360, Copyright © 1985 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Development of sustained-release antimicrobial dental varnishes effective against Streptococcus mutans in vitro
T. E. Balanyk and H. J. Sandham
Two antimicrobial varnishes were developed to be applied to the teeth for
the eradication of Streptococcus mutans infections. One of them contained
chlorhexidine acetate as the antimicrobial agent and the other,
erythromycin base. Both varnishes contained Sumatra benzoin. Each of the
two antimicrobial agents was shown to be highly effective against S. mutans
and to be compatible with the benzoin vehicle. When applied to extracted
teeth, both varnishes dried to form a tough, adherent, and colorless
transparent layer. Dried samples of the varnishes, when suspended in
frequently-changed buffer, released their microbial agents at low but
bactericidal levels for at least 12 days. After the first day, drug release
from the chlorhexidine varnish showed approximately zero-order kinetics,
while the erythromycin varnish showed a combination of zero-order and
first-order kinetics.
