Effects of Low-Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on \u3ci\u3eStreptococcus Mutans\u3c/i\u3e

The recent emergence of low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma (LTAPP) technology has led researchers to explore biomedical applications. The present study set out to determine if LTAPP has the ability to inactivate dental caries causing bacteria, specifically Streptococcus mutans. Methods: A total of 90 samples were processed. Seventy-two samples of S. mutans at 1: 100 dilution in BHI broth were exposed to LTAPP for various time intervals (60, 120, 180, 300 seconds). Eighteen control samples were plated but not exposed to LTAPP. Samples were plated on Mi tis salivarius (MS) agar and incubated 48 hours at 37° C. Colony forming units (CFU) were counted and inactivation factor (IF) were determined. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA at 0.05a significance. Results: Analysis revealed a statistically significant bactericidal effect of LTAPP on S. mutans at time exposures of 60, 120, 180, 300 seconds (p=0.272, p=0.0001, p=0.0001, p=0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: LTAPP had a statistically significant bactericidal effect on S. mutans at all time exposures, as measured by CFU/mL counts and inactivation factors that ranged from 53-95%