Analysis of the Mechanical and Biofilm‐Inhibitory Antimicrobial Properties of a Dental Tissue Conditioner Incorporating <i>Ocimum Gratissimum</i> Essential Oil: An In Vitro Study

<b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to investigate the tensile bond strength (TBS) and biofilm-inhibitory antimicrobial properties of tissue conditioners combined with <i>Ocimum gratissimum</i> essential oil (EO) at varying concentrations. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The original tissue conditioner was used as the control, while the experimental groups consisted of tissue conditioners incorporating <i>O. gratissimum</i> EO at concentrations of 1% and 2% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) in the liquid component. The TBS between the tissue conditioner and denture base acrylic resin was measured using a universal testing machine. To evaluate biofilm-inhibitory antimicrobial properties, cylindrical specimens infused with EO were prepared and incubated with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>. The crystal violet assay was utilized to quantify microbial biofilm formation. <b>Results:</b> The incorporation of <i>O. gratissimum</i> EO into tissue conditioners significantly increased the TBS on day 1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05) but showed no effect by day 7 post-polymerization (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Additionally, tissue conditioners containing 1% EO exhibited biofilm-inhibitory antimicrobial properties on day 1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas those with 2% EO demonstrated biofilm-inhibitory antimicrobial activity on both days 1 and 3 postinoculation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). By day 5 and 7, EO-infused tissue conditioners no longer exhibited biofilm-inhibitory antimicrobial properties (<i>p</i> > 0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Tissue conditioners infused with <i>O. gratissimum</i> EO effectively reduced the formation of biofilms by <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>S. mutans</i> in a dose-dependent manner on days 1 and 3. As tissue conditioners are typically replaced every 3-7 days, <i>O. gratissimum</i> EO can be incorporated as an additive to lower the formation of biofilms by <i>C. albicans and S. mutans</i> without compromising the TBS of the tissue conditioner to denture base acrylic resin.