SUMMARY
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of glass ionomer cement incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthetized using mint leaf extract (Mentha piperita, M. piperita) on some oral cavity bacteria.Materials and methods: In the present study, M. piperita leaf extract was used for the synthesis of AgNPs. A total of 60 glass ionomer cement (GIC) disk-shaped specimens were prepared and divided into two groups: conventional GIC (C-GIC), and glass ionomer cement with 2 wt% AgNPs (GIC-AGNPs). The antibacterial activity of the GIC specimens in comparison with Ampicillin disk (10 µg/ml) was investigated against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Streptococcus aureus by measuring the diameter of growth inhibition zones.Results: C-GIC specimens failed to show any antibacterial effect against the studied bacteria. However, the GIC-AgNPs had relatively significant antibacterial effects on S. mutans, L. acidophilus, L. casei and S. aureus. The highest antibacterial effect of GIC-AgNPs specimens was reported against L. acidophilus (P <0.001). GIC-AgNPs had no antibacterial effect on E. faecalis.Conclusion: Glass ionomer cement incorporated with AgNPs synthetized using M. piperita showed a promising antibacterial effect against oral cariogenic pathogens.