Antibacterial Effect of Nanosilver Fluoride and Silver Diamine Fluoride Against Streptococcus mutans: An In Vitro Study

Introduction: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a colorless solution used at different concentrations. It is a topical treatment used on caries lesions having as its main properties being cariostatic, remineralizing and antibacterial. Nanosilver fluoride (NSF) is effective as a cariostatic without a staining effect on the tooth surface as in the case of SDF, which generates a black stain on the treated surface. This NSF has been shown to exhibit low toxicity and continue to exhibit antimicrobial properties. Purpose: To compare the antibacterial effect of silver diamine fluoride and nanosilver fluoride against Streptococcus mutans. Methods: The NSF was prepared by starting with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles with chitosan and then adding it to a sodium fluoride (NaF) solution. The compared groups were SDF, NSF, AgNPs, NaF, and chlorhexidine. The antibacterial effect will be measured using the Kirby–Bauer microbiological technique. Results: The analysis of results was obtained using the ANOVA statistical test. A significant difference was obtained in the comparison between the groups with a value of p = 0.001. Subsequently, Tukey’s test was applied, obtaining significant differences between all the groups compared against the SDF, obtaining greater results in this group. Conclusions: Both silver diamine fluoride and nanosilver fluoride exhibit strong antibacterial activity at commercially recommended concentrations, supporting their use as optimal dental materials in both interceptive and preventive caries treatments.