Antifungal Efficacy of Thymol Powder Addition on Candida Albicans Adhesion to Room Temperature Vulcanized Maxillofacial Silicone: An In Vitro Study

Manar Hussein  Ramadhan; Faiza  Abdul-Ameer

doi:10.18502/fbt.v12i2.18268

Manar Hussein Ramadhan Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Faiza Abdul-Ameer Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fbt.v12i2.18268

Keywords: Candida Adherence; Candida Albicans; Maxillofacial Silicone; Thymol.

Abstract

Purpose: Microorganism colonization, namely Candida albicans (C. albicans), on silicone facial prostheses, with subsequent dermatitis and prosthesis material degradation, is another problem added to the list for maxillofacial defect patients who have already suffered a lot of physical and psychological pain during their injury and treatment journey. This study aimed to investigate the most effective percentage of thymol powder for retarding Candida albicans adhesion and colonization on the thymol-modified silicone specimens.

Materials and Methods: Study specimens were made from room-temperature vulcanized VerSilTal (VST-50) maxillofacial silicone, which is impregnated with thymol powder in percentages of 0.75 wt.% and 1 wt.%, depending on the pilot study outcomes. Forty silicone specimens were fabricated for the main study and then dispensed among four groups: group A (the negative control with no additive), groups B and C (0.75 and 1 wt.% thymol additive, respectively), and group D (the positive control with 1.4 wt.% nystatin additive). Candida adherence testing estimated the antifungal properties of thymol-modified maxillofacial silicone specimens through microscopic counting of adherent C. albicans cells on the silicone specimens’ surface. ANOVA and post-hoc multiple comparison tests were used to compare groups (significance level at P < 0.05).

Results: Statistically, group B exhibited the maximum significant reduction in candida adherence mean value of 52.211 yeast cells/mm² (P = 0.000), compared to the rest of the study groups, including the positive and the negative controls.

Conclusion: The outcomes revealed that thymol powder could be a powerful antifungal agent when impregnated with maxillofacial silicone to produce material with inherent sanitation against C. albicans fungi.