Database: MEDLINE <: biomedical, nursing & dental literature, 1966 - Oct 2000.> Search Strategy (You Saved Citations 1-300 From Set 70): ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 exp Tooth demineralization/ 22681 2 demineralization.mp. 1626 3 caries.mp. 15332 4 caires.mp. 1 5 craies.mp. 0 6 careis.mp. 4 7 carise.mp. 0 8 (teeth adj3 cavit:).mp. 422 9 (tooth adj3 cavit:).mp. 217 10 (dental adj3 cavit:).mp. 276 11 (dentin adj3 cavit:).mp. 255 12 (enamel adj3 cavit:).mp. 182 13 (teeth adj3 decay:).mp. 379 14 (tooth adj3 decay:).mp. 325 15 (dental adj3 decay:).mp. 251 16 (dentin adj3 decay:).mp. 12 17 (enamel adj3 decay:).mp. 20 18 (active adj decay).mp. 9 19 (rampant adj3 decay:).mp. 14 20 (recurrent adj3 decay:).mp. 30 21 (white adj spot:).mp. 512 22 carious.mp. 2083 23 cariology.ti,ab. 56 24 (non-cavitated adj3 lesion:).mp. 15 25 (noncavitated adj3 lesion:).mp. 2 26 Tooth remineralization/ 479 27 (dental adj3 fissure:).mp. 99 28 (tooth adj3 fissure:).mp. 50 29 (teeth adj3 fissure:).mp. 98 30 caries-free.mp. 606 31 cariesfree.mp. 17 32 Cariogenic agents/ 728 33 precavit:.mp. 8 34 (filled adj3 teeth).mp. 513 35 (filled adj3 tooth).mp. 117 36 (oral adj fissure:).mp. 6 37 (tooth adj3 remineraliz:).mp. 28 38 (teeth adj3 remineraliz:).mp. 24 39 dft.mp. 414 40 dfs.mp. 1266 41 dmf:.mp. 6412 42 cariogeni:.mp. 1788 43 or/1-42 32333 44 Dental plaque/ 10268 45 ((tooth or teeth or dent:) adj3 (placque or plaque)).mp. 3497 46 or/43-45 40699 47 Streptococcus mutans/ 4037 48 mutans.mp. 4027 49 theileria.mp. 1144 50 48 not 49 3952 51 47 or 50 4842 52 "S.".mp. 285982 53 "Str.".mp. 1857 54 strep:.mp. 102308 55 exp Streptococcus/ 36244 56 or/52-55 377351 57 cricetus.mp. 228 58 rattus.mp. 1800 59 sobrinus.mp. 479 60 or/57-59 2423 61 56 and 60 643 62 47 or 50 or 61 5142 63 (caries adj3 conducive).mp. 10 64 62 or 63 5149 65 46 and 64 2779 66 limit 65 to (human and english language) 1625 67 ip.fs. 425405 68 ("84097346" or "81133005" or "91322965" or "73227061" or 5 "74015000").ui. 69 66 and 67 733 70 68 or 69 734 71 from 70 keep 1-300 300 *************************** <1> UI - 20242101 AU - Hanada N IN - Department of Oral Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan. nhanada@nih.go.jp TI - Current understanding of the cause of dental caries. [Review] [38 refs] SO - Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases 2000 Feb;53(1):1-5 AB - Dental caries-associated oral streptococci are called the mutans streptococci, with Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus being the most prevalent caries-associated organisms in humans. Strains of the mutans streptococci are highly conserved within not only mothers and their children but also racial groups, suggesting vertical transmission of this organism within human populations. It has been found that the mother-child infection route of the mutans streptococci can be prevented by simply reducing the amount of the mutans streptococci contained in the mothers' saliva. Moreover, a chlorhexidine varnish reduces the salivary mutans streptococci by an average of 3 logs (99.9%), and moved them below detectable levels. We should attempt to eliminate the infection with the mutans streptococci among Japanese people by attempting to break the infectious chain from mothers to children. [References: 38] <2> UI - 20316028 AU - Caufield PW AU - Dasanayake AP AU - Li Y AU - Pan Y AU - Hsu J AU - Hardin JM IN - School of Dentistry, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA. page@uab.edu TI - Natural history of Streptococcus sanguinis in the oral cavity of infants: evidence for a discrete window of infectivity. SO - Infection & Immunity 2000 Jul;68(7):4018-23 AB - The heterogeneous group of oral bacteria within the sanguinis (sanguis) streptococci comprise members of the indigenous biota of the human oral cavity. While the association of Streptococcus sanguinis with bacterial endocarditis is well described in the literature, S. sanguinis is thought to play a benign, if not a beneficial, role in the oral cavity. Little is known, however, about the natural history of S. sanguinis and its specific relationship with other oral bacteria. As part of a longitudinal study concerning the transmission and acquisition of oral bacteria within mother-infant pairs, we examined the initial acquisition of S. sanguinis and described its colonization relative to tooth emergence and its proportions in plaque and saliva as a function of other biological events, including subsequent colonization with mutans streptococci. A second cohort of infants was recruited to define the taxonomic affiliation of S. sanguinis. We found that the colonization of the S. sanguinis occurs during a discrete "window of infectivity" at a median age of 9 months in the infants. Its colonization is tooth dependent and correlated to the time of tooth emergence; its proportions in saliva increase as new teeth emerge. In addition, early colonization of S. sanguinis and its elevated levels in the oral cavity were correlated to a significant delay in the colonization of mutans streptococci. Underpinning this apparent antagonism between S. sanguinis and mutans streptococci is the observation that after mutans streptococci colonize the infant, the levels of S. sanguinis decrease. Children who do not harbor detectable levels of mutans streptococci have significantly higher levels of S. sanguinis in their saliva than do children colonized with mutans streptococci. Collectively, these findings suggest that the colonization of S. sanguinis may influence the subsequent colonization of mutans streptococci, and this in turn may suggest several ecological approaches toward controlling dental caries. <3> UI - 20321835 AU - Munshi AK AU - Hegde AM AU - Munshi A IN - Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Karnataka. TI - Relationship between the existing caries status, plaque S. mutans and Cariostat caries activity test in children. SO - Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry 1999 Sep;17(3):73-89 AB - An attempt was made in this study to find out the sensitivity and specificity of a caries activity test, CARIOSTAT and its relationship to the existing caries status and the plaque S. mutans level. The test proved to be highly sensitive and specific with significant relationship to the S.mutans count in the dental plaque. There also was a significant relationship between both the cultured microorganisms on MSB agar and the plaque in the Cariostat medium. <4> UI - 20321735 AU - Noronha JC AU - Massara M de L AU - Souki BQ AU - Nogueira AP IN - Departamento de Odontopediatria e Ortodontia, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. fanoron@gold.com.br TI - First permanent molar: first indicator of dental caries activity in initial mixed dentition. SO - Brazilian Dental Journal 1999;10(2):99-104 AB - The objective of the present study was to investigate among children in the initial mixed dentition phase the presence of clinical signs that might eventually function as more sensitive indicators of the development of caries disease, denoted here as caries activity. On this basis, we investigated the relationship between salivary levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and decayed, missing and filled permanent and deciduous tooth surfaces (DMFS and dmfs) using microbiological, clinical and radiographic examinations in 81 schoolchildren aged 7-8 years. Whereas dmfs did not present a positive correlation, DMFS was significantly correlated with salivary MS levels. The first permanent molars of the schoolchildren studied comprised 87.3% of the affected surfaces recorded in the DMFS, suggesting that the development of new lesions was preferentially located on the surfaces of the first permanent molars. These results permit us to conclude that the first permanent molars function as first indicators of dental caries activity in the schoolchildren examined. <5> UI - 20247325 AU - Radford JR AU - Ballantyne HM AU - Nugent Z AU - Beighton D AU - Robertson M AU - Longbottom C AU - Pitts NB IN - Unit of Adult Comprehensive Restorative Care, Dundee Dental Hospital and School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. john.radford@lineone.net TI - Caries-associated micro-organisms in infants from different socio-economic backgrounds in Scotland. SO - Journal of Dentistry 2000 Jul;28(5):307-12 AB - OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the frequency of isolation of mutans streptococci, (Streptococcus mutans, Steptococcus sobrinus), lactobacilli and yeasts (caries-associated micro-organisms) in the saliva of 1-year-old infants with and without dental caries; and (2) to determine if socio-economic background influenced the frequency isolation of bacteria and caries status. METHODS: 1393 1-year-old consented infants, who comprised 70. 3% of children born in Dundee during a 1year period, had saliva samples taken (tongue-loop method) for microbiological culture and were examined for dental caries (d(1)-threshold: enamel and dentine diagnostic threshold). Thirty-nine infants were diagnosed with caries and the frequencies of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms (and absolute microbial counts) were compared with infants who were caries-free. In addition, associations were sought between the infants' socio-economic background, the frequency of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms and caries status. RESULTS: Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and yeasts were isolated more frequently from those infants with caries compared to those who were caries-free (S. mutans: 29.7 vs 9.8%, P=0.0008; lactobacilli: 15.4 vs 4.3%, P=0.0073; yeasts: 23.7 vs 10.4%, P=0.0016-Fisher's exact test). There were no significant differences between the isolation frequencies of S. sobrinus (2.7 vs 1.3%, P=0.39) from those with and without caries. Significantly, more infants living in areas of high deprivation had caries compared to those from more affluent areas (DEPCAT 6 and 7 vs 1-5: 3.6 vs 1.9%, P=0.049), but, apart from yeasts, socio-economic background was not significantly associated with the isolation frequencies of any of the caries-associated micro-organisms. CONCLUSIONS: In infants as young as 1year of age, salivary S. mutans, lactobacilli and yeasts but not S. sobrinus were isolated significantly more frequently from those with caries compared to those who were caries-free. Apart from yeasts, socio-economic background did not influence the frequency of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms. However, infants living in areas of highest deprivation had significantly higher frequencies of caries compared to those from more affluent areas. <6> UI - 20237499 AU - Emanuelsson IR AU - Thornqvist E IN - Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmo University, Malmo, Sweden. Ing-Mari.Redmo:Emanuelsson@Od.mah.se TI - Genotypes of mutans streptococci tend to persist in their host for several years. SO - Caries Research 2000 Mar-Apr;34(2):133-9 AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of the prevalence of mutans streptococci in a group of Swedish families. Eleven families, which had previously been examined for genotypes of mutans streptococci, were re-examined after 2-5 years. The families consisted of mother, father and a child (mean age 7.2 years at the follow-up examination). One father did not participate. Pooled plaque samples were obtained from buccal and occlusal surfaces. Isolates of mutans streptococci were genotyped using chromosomal DNA digested with restriction endonuclease HaeIII, separated by gel electrophoresis and visualised through UV illumination after ethidium bromide staining. Comparing the DNA fingerprints of mutans streptococci found at baseline and follow-up, 9 children harboured one or two genotypes which were similar on the two sampling occasions. Two of these children had also gained a genotype. The remaining 2 children had lost a genotype each and 1 of them had gained two new genotypes. All 21 adults showed one or two genotypes identical to those found at baseline. Nine of these 21 adults had also lost one genotype. Four of these 9 and additionally 4 of the remaining adults showed one or two new genotypes. Six mother-child pairs shared a genotype at baseline and this pattern remained for five pairs at the end of the study. The results suggest that genotypes of mutans streptococci have a fairly high degree of consistency in children between 3 and 8 years of age as well as in adults, indicating persistence of the strains. However, the results also indicate that some subjects may gain and/or lose genotypes. <7> UI - 20237498 AU - Li Y AU - Wang W AU - Caufield PW IN - Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ala., USA. yihongli@uab.edu TI - The fidelity of mutans streptococci transmission and caries status correlate with breast-feeding experience among Chinese families. SO - Caries Research 2000 Mar-Apr;34(2):123-32 AB - Our previous study reported that the fidelity of mutans streptococci (MS) transmission from mother to infant was gender- and race-specific within a Birmingham, Ala., population. We hypothesized that fidelity might be a function of postnatal nurturing practices. The purpose of the present study was to investigate those factors that could be correlated with MS transmission among Chinese children whose nurturing histories were known. Forty-eight families with 2- to 3-year-old children were selected from two kindergartens of Beijing, China. A questionnaire concerning the childhood nursing practice was obtained from the parents. Dental caries status was examined, and bacterial samples were collected for all participants twice at 6-month intervals. An average of six isolates of MS was picked at random from selective medium from each individual at each visit. Chromosomal DNA fingerprints were performed for all MS isolates to determine the genomic similarity within each family and among individuals. The results showed that 66% of the children at 2-3 years of age harbored MS, and 46% were caries-active. Of those children, 70% were breast-fed. Among the children whose chromosomal DNA fingerprint genotypes of MS matched that of their mothers, 88% were breast-fed compared with only 12% who were not breast-fed (p = 0.03). We also found that children who were breast-fed for more than 9 months were likely to harbor strains of MS common to their mothers (p = 0.04) and experience more dental caries (dmft = 4.4) at 3 years of age compared with children who were breast-fed less than 9 months (dmft = 1.4, p = 0.04). The data suggest that breast-feeding, especially prolonged breast-feeding, may correlate with the fidelity of transmission and that prolonged breast-feeding may contribute to a higher caries rate. <8> UI - 20191863 AU - Cai L AU - Wei GX AU - van der Bijl P AU - Wu CD IN - Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 801 South Paulina Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612-7212, USA. TI - Namibian chewing stick, Diospyros lycioides, contains antibacterial compounds against oral pathogens. SO - Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry 2000 Mar;48(3):909-14 AB - The twigs of Diospyros lycioides, a plant commonly known as "muthala", are frequently used as chewing sticks for the cleaning of teeth by rural and urban people in Namibia. Preliminary studies showed that a methanol extract of D. lycioides inhibited growth of selected oral pathogens. Subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of four novel bioactive naphthalene glycosides, diospyrosides A, B, C, and D (1-4), and two known bioactive naphthoquinones, juglone (5) and 7-methyljuglone (6). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR. These compounds inhibited the growth of oral cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis) and periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia) at minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.019 to 1.25 mg/mL. Juglone exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity among these compounds. <9> UI - 20200896 AU - Llena-Puy MC AU - Montanana-Llorens C AU - Forner-Navarro L IN - Dental Pathology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain. TI - Cariogenic oral flora and its relation to dental caries. SO - ASDC Journal of Dentistry for Children 2000 Jan-Feb;67(1):42-6, 9 AB - Many attempts have been made to establish the risk profile of dental caries; however, no diagnostic procedures are yet available to reliably predict such risk particularly among the pediatric and adolescent population. Age of subject, a history of caries affecting the primary dentition, the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans, pH values, salivary flow, and the frequency and amount of sugar consumption have been the factors most studied. A cross-sectional study is made of schoolchildren in the 12-13-year age-range to evaluate the relationship between dental caries and CFU/ml of S. mutans and Lactobacillus, salivary buffer capacity, and salivary flow. Likewise, an evaluation is made of the predictive value of the variables, bacterial count and salivary pH with respect to caries. A total of 167 children were subjected to oral examination to establish the DMFT and DMFS indices, followed by the collection of saliva for quantitating S. mutans, Lactobacillus, pH and salivary flow, by the Dentocult (SM)(LB) and Dentobuff systems (Vivadent). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis, comparisons among variables were made by nonparametric testing with a confidence level of 95 percent. Test predictive value was studied in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and probability ratio. Statistically significant (p < 0.001) correlations were observed between the caries indices and bacterial counts. No significant association was recorded with the rest of the variables studied. Bacterial counts as well as salivary buffer capacities exhibited greater negative than positive predictive values, i.e., they were more effective in identifying healthy individuals than patients who required treatment. <10> UI - 20236889 AU - Angulo M AU - Cabanas B AU - Camporeale N AU - Emilson CG IN - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Odontology, Montevideo, Uruguay. TI - Dental caries and caries-associated microorganisms in Uruguayan preschool children. SO - Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 1999 Dec;57(6):301-5 AB - The prevalence of dental caries was studied in 3-5-year-old Uruguayan children (n = 76) living in 2 areas with different socioeconomic and cultural conditions. More children from the low socioeconomic area of Las Acacias had caries (68%) than children from the middle- to high-class neighborhood of Pocitos (19%). They also had poorer oral hygiene and a significantly higher caries prevalence (P < 0.05) than those from Pocitos. The occurrence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli was determined in whole unstimulated saliva and compared with that in debris collected with a loop from the dorsum of the tongue. Mutans streptococci were detected in 42% of the children with significant correlations between the salivary levels of the microorganism and caries experience. Lactobacilli were recovered less frequently (18%). The detection of mutans streptococci in the tongue-loop samples was significantly correlated with that in whole saliva. <11> UI - 20227031 AU - Soderling E AU - Isokangas P AU - Pienihakkinen K AU - Tenovuo J IN - Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. eva.soderling@utu.fi TI - Influence of maternal xylitol consumption on acquisition of mutans streptococci by infants. SO - Journal of Dental Research 2000 Mar;79(3):882-7 AB - Xylitol is effective as a non-cariogenic sugar substitute. Habitual xylitol consumption appears to select for mutans streptococci (MS) with impaired adhesion properties, i.e., they shed easily to saliva from plaque. One hundred sixty-nine mother-child pairs participated in a two-year study exploring whether the mothers' xylitol consumption could be used to prevent mother-child transmission of mutans streptococci. All mothers showed high salivary levels of mutans streptococci during pregnancy. The mothers in the xylitol group (n = 106) were requested to chew xylitol-sweetened gum (65% w/w) at least 2 or 3 times a day, starting three months after delivery. In the two control groups, the mothers received either chlorhexidine (n = 30) or fluoride (n = 33) varnish treatments at 6, 12, and 18 months after delivery. The children did not chew gum or receive varnish treatments. MS were assessed from the mothers' saliva at half-year intervals and from the children's plaque at the one- and two-year examinations. The MS were cultured on Mitis salivarius agars containing bacitracin. The salivary MS levels of the mothers remained high and not significantly different among the three study groups throughout the study. At two years of age, 9.7% of the children in the xylitol, 28.6% in the chlorhexidine, and 48.5% in the fluoride varnish group showed a detectable level of MS. In conclusion, therefore, habitual xylitol consumption by mothers was associated with a statistically significant reduction of the probability of mother-child transmission of MS assessed at two years of age. The effect was superior to that obtained with either chlorhexidine or fluoride varnish treatments performed as single applications at six-month intervals. <12> UI - 20115090 AU - Liu B AU - Rayment SA AU - Gyurko C AU - Oppenheim FG AU - Offner GD AU - Troxler RF IN - Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, MA 02118, Boston, USA. TI - The recombinant N-terminal region of human salivary mucin MG2 (MUC7) contains a binding domain for oral Streptococci and exhibits candidacidal activity. SO - Biochemical Journal 2000 Feb 1;345 Pt 3:557-64 AB - MG2 (the MUC7 gene product) is a low-molecular-mass mucin found in human submandibular/sublingual secretions. This mucin is believed to agglutinate a variety of microbes and thus is considered an important component of the non-immune host defence system in the oral cavity. We have shown that MUC7 can bind to cariogenic strains of Streptococcus mutans and that this binding requires a structural determinant in the N-terminal region. In the present study an expression construct, pNMuc7, encoding the N-terminal 144 amino acids of MUC7 was generated, and the recombinant protein rNMUC7 was expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified rNMUC7 was characterized and the binding of this protein to oral bacteria was investigated in an established assay. The results showed that the recombinant protein bound to S. mutans ATCC 25175 and ATCC 33402, and that alkylation of the two cysteine residues (Cys(45) and Cys(50)) resulted in the complete loss of bacterial binding. This suggests that binding of MUC7 to S. mutans occurs between the N-terminal region of the mucin molecule and the bacterial surface, and that this interaction is dependent on a cysteine-containing domain within this region of MUC7. In addition, the killing activity of rNMUC7 was compared with that of the candidacidal salivary protein histatin 5 in an established Candida albicans (ATCC 44505) blastoconidia killing assay. It was found that the LD(50) values of rNMUC7 and histatin 5 were comparable, and that the recombinant protein displayed significant killing activity at the physiological concentration range of MUC7 in whole saliva. This study is the first to show that the N-terminal region of MUC7 contains a structural determinant for bacterial binding and that this region exhibits candidacidal activity. <13> UI - 20117816 AU - Balakrishnan M AU - Simmonds RS AU - Carne A AU - Tagg JR IN - Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. TI - Streptococcus mutans strain N produces a novel low molecular mass non-lantibiotic bacteriocin. SO - FEMS Microbiology Letters 2000 Feb 1;183(1):165-9 AB - Streptococcus mutans strain N was shown to have bacteriocin production and immunity characteristics consistent with those of Group I mutacin-producing strains of S. mutans. The bacteriocin mutacin N was purified from agar cultures of S. mutans strain N using XAD andp6 reversed phase chromatography. The molecular mass of mutacin N was 4806 Da and the entire 49 amino acid sequence was determined by N-terminal sequencing. Database searches indicate that mutacin N is a novel bacteriocin, but with some homology to the protein IIC domain of a hypothetical sugar-phosphotransferase enzyme from Acholeplasma florum. <14> UI - 20103524 AU - Petti S AU - Bossa MC AU - Tarsitani G AU - Falcolini G AU - Lumbau A AU - Campus G IN - G. Sanarelli Hygiene Institute, La Sapienza University, Rome. TI - Variables affecting salivary Streptococcus mutans counts in a cohort of 12-year-old subjects. [Review] [31 refs] SO - Minerva Stomatologica 1999 Sep;48(9):361-6 AB - BACKGROUND: Several factors such as toothbrushing, diet, acidogenic potential of the mutans streptococci strain and site of the carious lesion can modify the salivary Streptococcus mutans (Sm) counts. In the present investigation the effect of some behavioural, clinical and microbiological variables on Sm salivary counts was evaluated in a cohort of 12-year-olds. METHODS: Forty subjects were examined by two calibrated examiners (GC, AL). The number of surfaces either decayed occlusal, decayed smooth or filled and the number of bleeding sextants, (clinical index for oral hygiene) were reported. Saliva was collected using a tongue depressor and was plated onto mitis salivarius agar with bacitracin and 20% sucrose. The presumptive Sm colonies were counted and the concentrations were logarithmically transformed. One Sm strain per subject was identified and the cariogenic potential evaluated as the minimum pH value recorded, during 5 hrs of incubation in 5% sucrose solution. The children's parents or guardians completed a questionnaire concerning the frequency of toothbrushing, the consumption of sweet foods and soft drinks and at what age the children started brushing their teeth. The effect of the explanatory variables on Sm count logarithms was evaluated by stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The regressors with significant additional explanatory power were cariogenic potential (b = -1.335, p = 0.00001, R2 increment = 0.312), decayed smooth surfaces (b = -0.456, p = 0.009, R2 increment = 0.114) and bleeding sextants (b = -0.113, p = 0.004, R2 increment = 0.062), whereas the power of filled surfaces was marginally significant (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, it is suggested that acidogenicity is not only a cariogenic factor, but also a factor promoting colonization of oral sites by Sm, especially in subjects with a high frequency of sugar consumption. [References: 31] <15> UI - 20069267 AU - O'Sullivan EA AU - Curzon ME IN - Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds, UK. DENEAO@leeds.ac.uk TI - Salivary factors affecting dental erosion in children. SO - Caries Research 2000 Jan-Feb;34(1):82-7 AB - Dental erosion is becoming a major dental problem in both children and adults. The aim of this study was to measure the salivary flow rates, buffering capacity and mutans streptococci counts in children with erosion, and compare them to age- and sex-matched caries-free and caries-active individuals to establish which factors may be important in erosion. The study was conducted as a case-control study with standard methods of salivary and mutans streptococci measurement. The results showed significant differences for mutans streptococci counts (p = 0.05), unstimulated and stimulated salivary pH and buffering capacity (p = 0.001). These results suggest that although individuals with erosion have caries experience similar to a caries-free individual, their salivary characteristics more closely match those of a caries-active subject. The tests described are simple to carry out and may be useful in explaining individual patient susceptibility. <16> UI - 20092449 AU - Truong TL AU - Menard C AU - Mouton C AU - Trahan L IN - Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Buccale, Faculte de Medecine Dentaire, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada. TI - Identification of mutans and other oral streptococci by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. SO - Journal of Medical Microbiology 2000 Jan;49(1):63-71 AB - The identification and classification of the non-haemolytic or viridans group of streptococci have long been recognised as difficult and unsatisfactory. Phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity have resulted in ambiguous speciation, particularly with mutans streptococci and other oral streptococci. This study was done to determine whether random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis is useful to identify and even classify oral and other streptococci. DNA was prepared and purified from 25 strains of mutans streptococci including 11 reference strains of Streptococcus mutans, seven of S. sobrinus, three of S. rattus and one each of the four other species of the mutans group, together with 20 other reference species, mostly streptococci, and from 49 fresh isolates of mutans streptococci and of S. mutans from human saliva and dental plaque. DNA amplification was primed with each of three arbitrarily selected primers nine or 10 nucleotides in length. The amplified DNA fragments (amplicons) obtained were compared by agarose gel electrophoresis. Species- and strain-specific RAPD fingerprints were obtained not only from pure genomic DNA, but also from the supernates of crude cellular or colony extracts. Pending the analysis of numerous other strains, the data suggest that RAPD may be of value: (i) to distinguish the species S. mutans and S. sobrinus from each other and potentially from other species of oral streptococci, (ii) to differentiate and possibly classify oral streptococci and (iii) as a valuable tool in mutans streptococci epidemiology and transmission studies, by virtue of its rapidity, efficiency and reproducibility in generating genetic fingerprints of streptococcal isolates. <17> UI - 20079970 AU - Di Natale MQ TI - Caries development and aerococcus viridans. SO - Ontario Dentist 1999 Jul-Aug;76(6):18-27 <18> UI - 20067056 AU - Thibodeau EA AU - O'Sullivan DM IN - Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington 06030-3910, USA. thibodeau@nso.uchc.edu TI - Salivary mutans streptococci and caries development in the primary and mixed dentitions of children. SO - Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology 1999 Dec;27(6):406-12 AB - OBJECTIVES: For more than 25 years, both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of dental caries have focused on the role of salivary mutans streptococci (SMS) as a predictor of caries risk. This study examined the relationship between SMS and longitudinal caries development in the primary and mixed dentitions. METHODS: Eighty-five children, initial mean age 3.8 years, were examined for dental caries at baseline and once annually for 6 years. Children's SMS were sampled with a tongue blade, which was impressed onto plates containing a medium selective for SMS. After incubation, colony forming units of SMS were determined semi-quantitatively and categorized as low, moderate or high. RESULTS: Children classified as high caries risk at baseline had significantly greater (P<0.05) dmfs scores for all teeth, and in the primary molars, than children classified as moderate or low caries risk at every age but 9 (P<0.10). Children classified as high risk at age 3 had the greatest DMFS increment through age 8. Based on annual examinations, there was a trend towards increasing mean dmfs/DMFS scores among children classified as high risk in every year. CONCLUSIONS: The current study is among the first to report on the ability of annual measurements of SMS to identify long-term caries risk in both the primary and the mixed dentitions. Despite limitations in predicting caries risk using microbiological methods, this longitudinal study supports the overall benefits of this type of testing. <19> UI - 99451675 AU - Brambilla E AU - Twetman S AU - Felloni A AU - Cagetti MG AU - Canegallo L AU - Garcia-Godoy F AU - Strohmenger L IN - Department of Pedodontics, Clinica Odontostomatologica, University of Milan, Italy. TI - Salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in 9- and 13-year-old Italian schoolchildren and the relation to oral health. SO - Clinical Oral Investigations 1999 Mar;3(1):7-10 AB - The prevalence and levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) in saliva and its possible correlation with dental caries and periodontal conditions was investigated in 473 Italian schoolchildren, 9 and 13 years of age. A clinical examination and sampling of stimulated whole saliva was carried out in the school and oral health was assessed as DMFT and CPITN using the WHO criteria. The saliva samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and after thawing, cultivated on selective media. To test the influence of cryopreservation, fresh samples from 20 subjects were cultivated. Thirty-five percent of the children were caries-free with a mean DMFT of 1.9 at the age of 13. The majority exhibited healthy periodontal conditions. Salivary MS and LB were identified in 52% and 21% of the children, respectively. The prevalence of MS was higher among the 13-year-olds than the 9-year-olds while no such difference was found regarding LB. There was a statistically positive relationship (P < 0.01) between the levels of MS and LB and both were significantly correlated to caries (P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient of microbial recovery between frozen and unfrozen samples was 0.99. In conclusion, the data provided cross-sectional information of a clear positive relationship between selected micro-organisms in saliva and caries in 9- and 13-year-old children in spite of a relatively low prevalence of the disease. The findings are discussed in a risk selection perspective. <20> UI - 99391683 AU - Beighton D AU - Brailsford SR AU - Lynch E AU - Chen HY AU - Clark DT IN - Joint Microbiology Research Unit, Guy's King's and St. Thomas' Dental Institute, Whitechapel, England. david.beighton@kcl.ac.uk TI - The influence of specific foods and oral hygiene on the microflora of fissures and smooth surfaces of molar teeth: A 5-day study. SO - Caries Research 1999 Sep-Oct;33(5):349-56 AB - A group of 20 students, harbouring >10(4) mutans streptococci per millilitre of saliva, was enrolled into the study. Models for sampling, reproducibly, the dental plaque present in specific sites (fissure and smooth surface) on the dentition were developed and validated. Withdrawal of normal oral hygiene procedures for only 1 day resulted in approximately 10-fold increases in the number of micro-organisms recovered from both sites. The effect of supplementing the subjects' diets with particular food items given 5 times per day [lemonade (5.8% w/v sugars, 250 ml), biscuits (digestive biscuits, 67.6% w/w carbohydrate of which 22% w/w was sugars and 45.6% w/w was starch), caramel toffees and sugar lumps] on the number of micro-organisms recovered and on the composition of the flora at both sites was determined. Dental plaque samples were taken after 5 days and it was found that supplementation of the diet with toffee and sugar lumps resulted in significantly more micro-organisms at both sampling sites. The supplementation of the diets with lemonade or biscuits did not significantly alter the numbers of micro-organisms recovered from either site. The percentage composition of the plaque samples from both dental sites remained relatively unaffected by oral hygiene although there were lower levels of mutans streptococci which might be related to the use of an antimicrobial toothpaste containing fluoride, triclosan and zinc citrate. This study suggests that the cariogenicity of certain sucrose-containing foods may, in part, be due to the enhancement of plaque accumulation in addition to other effects on the percentage composition of the plaque which may become manifest on prolonged usage of these dietary foodstuffs. These observations are consistent with dietary survey findings which often find consumption of confectionery related to caries experience or incidence. <21> UI - 99391684 AU - Gonzalez-Cabezas C AU - Li Y AU - Gregory RL AU - Stookey GK IN - Oral Health Research Institute, School of Dentistry and School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 46202, USA. CGONZALE@IUSD.IUPUI.EDU TI - Distribution of three cariogenic bacteria in secondary carious lesions around amalgam restorations. SO - Caries Research 1999 Sep-Oct;33(5):357-65 AB - Secondary dental caries remains an unresolved problem in dentistry and little is known of its microbial etiology. The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of the three most suspected cariogenic groups of bacteria, mutans streptococci. Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 2 and lactobacilli, in natural secondary caries around amalgam restorations. Extracted teeth with secondary caries were sectioned to obtain three samples that were randomly distributed to three different groups. Each group was immunolabeled with antibodies to either Streptococcus mutans, A. naeslundii genospecies 2 or Lactobacillus casei and subsequently labeled with secondary fluorescent antibodies. All samples were analyzed three-dimensionally using confocal microscopy. The results indicated that the three different bacteria were widely present and could have an important role in the development of secondary caries around amalgam restorations. <22> UI - 99349166 AU - Saini S AU - Mahajan A AU - Sharma JK AU - Arora AU - Saini OP IN - Department of Microbiology and Dental College and Hospital, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana. TI - Polymicrobial etiology of dental caries. SO - Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology 1999 Jan;42(1):25-9 AB - The present study was carried out to establish the normal bacterial oral flora and the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora from deep seated dental caries, and to determine the antimicrobial sensitivity of the clinical isolates so obtained Streptococcus mutans (48%) and Streptococcus sanguis (20%) were the main aerobic isolates whereas Lactobacillus spp. (52%), Veillonella spp. (24%) and Actinomyces spp. (12%) were the major anaerobic isolates. Hundred percent of the samples from dental caries yielded polymicrobial isolates while in two samples from healthy individuals S. mutans was the sole isolate. As the flora changed from healthy tooth to dental caries it changed from one predominated by anaerobic gram-positive cocci to anaerobic gram-positive bacilli. All the anaerobes isolated were sensitive to metronidazole and cefotaxime, whereas all the isolated streptococci were sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin. Incorporation of the antibiotics in baseline restoration, if technically feasible, has been advocated. <23> UI - 99372532 AU - Ahlberg J AU - Murtomaa H AU - Meurman JH IN - Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland. jari.ahlberg@yle.fi TI - Subsidized dental care associated with lower mutans streptococci count in male industrial workers. SO - Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 1999 Apr;57(2):83-6 AB - Salivary mutans streptococci count, dental status, and related factors were studied in male industrial workers (age 38-65 years) with or without access to subsidized dental care. Altogether 315 subsidized workers and 168 controls without subsidy were compared. A prior questionnaire survey had shown that the two study groups were similar in age, oral self-care habits, and socio-environmental factors. In the present study, the mean number of carious teeth was significantly lower in the subsidized group (0.4, SD 1.2) than in the control group (1.7, SD 3.2) (P< 0.001). Otherwise the study groups had similar dental status. A total of 92% subsidized employees had visited a dentist within the past 2 years, while 82% in the control group had done so (P< 0.01). According to the trend test, men in the subsidized group tended to have a lower mutans streptococci count than the control employees (P< 0.01). The logistic regression showed that the probability of having one or more carious tooth was significantly negatively associated with subsidized care and positively associated with high mutans streptococci count. It is concluded that subsidized dental care leading to a smaller number of untreated carious teeth might result in decreased levels of mutans streptococci. <24> UI - 99244269 AU - Kozai K AU - Nakayama R AU - Tedjosasongko U AU - Kuwahara S AU - Suzuki J AU - Okada M AU - Nagasaka N IN - Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University School of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan. kozai@ipc.hiroshima-u.ac.jp TI - Intrafamilial distribution of mutans streptococci in Japanese families and possibility of father-to-child transmission. SO - Microbiology & Immunology 1999;43(2):99-106 AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the intrafamilial distribution of mutans streptococci in Japanese families using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting with three endonucleases; EcoRI, HindIII and HaeIII. The analysis of 1,908 isolates cultured from the dental plaque of 76 subjects from 20 families (20 married couples and 36 of their children) resulted in the identification of 144 genotypes containing 114 strains of Streptococcus mutans (serotype c, 66.7%; e, 12.5%) and 30 strains of S. sobrinus (d, 13.2%; g, 7.6%). A mean of 1.89 genotypes (from one to four) was harbored in individual subjects, and a mean of 4.10 genotypes from two to seven was harbored in individual families. Among the 70 genotypes found in the children, 36 (51.4%) were in agreement with their mothers and 22 (31.4%) were in agreement with their fathers. The other genotypes (18.6%) did not correspond with the parents. Homologous strains between parents were found in only two couples. This result showed that fathers or others as well as mothers can be sources of transmission. Further, the serotype d, e and g strains showed significantly higher probabilities of transmission than serotype c. <25> UI - 99225383 AU - Kivela J AU - Parkkila S AU - Parkkila AK AU - Rajaniemi H IN - Department of Anatomy, University of Oulu, Finland. jyrki-kivela@pp.inet.fi TI - A low concentration of carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI in whole saliva is associated with caries prevalence. SO - Caries Research 1999 May-Jun;33(3):178-84 AB - Carbonic anhydrases maintain pH homeostasis in various tissues of the human body by catalyzing the reversible reaction CO2 + H2O <=> HCO3- + H+. Carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CA VI) is secreted into human saliva by the serous acinar cells of the parotid and submandibular glands. Although it represents about 3% of the total protein in stimulated parotid saliva, its exact physiological significance in the saliva has not been established. In the present study, saliva samples were collected under strictly controlled conditions from young, healthy men and assayed for CA VI concentrations using a specific time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. Salivary secretion rate, pH, buffering capacity, alpha-amylase activity levels, lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans counts were also determined, and the results were correlated with the dental status of the subjects. Salivary CA VI concentration, pH and buffering capacity values correlated negatively with the numbers of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT index). The correlations between salivary CA VI concentration and DMFT index were most significant in subjects with poor oral hygiene. No correlation was found between salivary CA VI concentration and lactobacillus or Streptococcus mutans counts. As predicted, salivary lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans counts showed a close positive correlation with the DMFT index. In contrast, no significant correlation was seen between salivary secretion rate or amylase activity and the DMFT index. The present results indicate that low salivary CA VI concentrations are associated with increased caries prevalence, particularly in subjects with neglected oral hygiene. <26> UI - 99225385 AU - Gabris K AU - Nagy G AU - Madlena M AU - Denes Z AU - Marton S AU - Keszthelyi G AU - Banoczy J IN - Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary. gabris@gyfog.sote.hu TI - Associations between microbiological and salivary caries activity tests and caries experience in Hungarian adolescents. SO - Caries Research 1999 May-Jun;33(3):191-5 AB - The aim of the study was to assess caries prevalence in connection with salivary caries-related findings in 349 14- to 16-year-old Hungarian adolescents living in two different cities. DMFT, DMFS means, stimulated salivary flow, buffer capacity, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and candida counts in saliva were determined. The ratio of caries-free adolescents was 4.6% in the total population sample, DMFT mean values were 7.24+/-4.86, DMFS means 10.50+/-8.35. Mean secretion rate of stimulated saliva was 0. 84+/-0.50; a low buffer capacity was found in 6.3% of the examined children. The ratio of carriers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts in saliva was 89.7, 73.9 and 47.7%, respectively. DMFT and DMFS values as well as mutans streptococci and candida counts were lower in the capital than in the other city. Statistically significant correlations were found between DMFT, DMFS mean values, and salivary microbiological counts. <27> UI - 99247414 AU - Rupf S AU - Kneist S AU - Merte K AU - Eschrich K IN - Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, Germany. TI - Quantitative determination of Streptococcus mutans by using competitive polymerase chain reaction. SO - European Journal of Oral Sciences 1999 Apr;107(2):75-81 AB - Mutans streptococci are among the range of pathogens strongly related to human dental caries. The determination of total amounts of these pathogens as well as their proportion in relation to other oral bacteria is of interest for the assessment of the risk that a patient runs of developing dental caries. This paper presents a competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the specific quantitative determination of Streptococcus mutans which uses a homologous DNA for internal standardisation. For quantification of these bacteria, calibration curves were obtained by coamplification of known amounts of S. mutans DNA in the presence of different known amounts of the competitor DNA. The same procedure was performed with known amounts of cultured S. mutans cells. In a clinical study, the reliability of the newly developed quantitative PCR method was assessed by comparing its results with those obtained in parallel with a standard chair side culture method. The described method enables a rapid and exact determination of unknown amounts of S. mutans and could provide an efficient tool for evaluating the caries risk in a patient and to monitor the efficiency of preventive and therapeutic measures. <28> UI - 99256609 AU - Jean-Baptiste M IN - State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA. TI - Caries prevention during pregnancy: results of 30-month study. SO - Journal of Nurse-Midwifery 1999 Mar-Apr;44(2):164-5 <29> UI - 99213081 AU - Seow WK AU - Amaratunge A AU - Sim R AU - Wan A IN - Pediatric Dentistry, University of Queensland. TI - Prevalence of caries in urban Australian aborigines aged 1-3.5 years. SO - Pediatric Dentistry 1999 Mar-Apr;21(2):91-6 AB - PURPOSE: This study investigated the prevalence and etiological factors associated with caries in a group of young Australian aboriginal children from 1 to 3.5 years of age. METHODS: One hundred and forty-seven healthy infants, aged from 1 to 3.5 years, attending a community health center in Brisbane, a nonfluoridated state capital city, were randomly selected for the study. RESULTS: The caries prevalence was 39% by subjects and 32% by the total number of teeth present. The mean number of decayed, filled teeth (dtf) was 2.5 +/- 0.4, which is more than twice the figure for 3-year-old children in Australia. Furthermore, the filled (f) component represented only 1% of the total dft, suggesting very low treatment levels. Increased caries experience of the infants was strongly associated with high dental plaque scores, high levels of Streptococcus mutans infection, and sleep-time consumption of milk containing added sugar. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that urban Australian aboriginal infants are at high risk for caries, and that preventive strategies are urgently required. <30> UI - 99161276 AU - Kim SY AU - Ohk SH AU - Bai DH AU - Yu JH IN - Department of Food and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. soyoung@kribb4680.kribb.re.kr TI - Purification and properties of bacteriolytic enzymes from Bacillus licheniformis YS-1005 against Streptococcus mutans. SO - Bioscience, Biotechnology & Biochemistry 1999 Jan;63(1):73-7 AB - To find a novel lytic enzyme against cariogenic Streptococci, strains showing strong lytic activity have been screened from soil using Streptococcus mutans. A strain identified as Bacillus licheniformis secreted two kinds of lytic enzymes, which were purified by methanol precipitation, CM-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The molecular weights of these two enzymes, L27 and L45, were 27,000 and 45,000, respectively. Optimum pH and temperature of both enzymes for lytic activity were pH 8 and 37 degrees C. L27 and L45 digest the peptide linkage between L-Ala and D-Glu in peptidoglycan of Streptococcus mutans. The lytic activity was highly specific for Streptococcus mutans, suggesting their potential use as a dental care product. <31> UI - 99114782 AU - Almstahl A AU - Kroneld U AU - Tarkowski A AU - Wikstrom M IN - Department of Oral Microbiology, University of Goteborg, Sweden. Annica.Almstahl@odontologi.gu.se TI - Oral microbial flora in Sjogren's syndrome. SO - Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jan;26(1):110-4 AB - OBJECTIVE: To study presence of microorganisms associated with caries, gingivitis, oral opportunistic infections, and extent of hyposalivation in dentate patients with primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: An oral clinical examination was performed. The salivary flow was measured and a rinsing sample analyzed for presence of specific microorganisms. The results were compared to those of healthy controls matched for sex, age, and number of teeth. RESULTS: In patients with undetectable salivary flow at rest, mean number and proportion of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli showed a tendency to be increased, as well as the frequency of Candida. They also displayed an increased proportion of filled surfaces. In contrast, gingivitis and the numbers of microorganisms associated with gingivitis were comparable to those found in the healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with SS and severe hyposalivation harbor oral flora associated with the development of caries and frequent presence of retention sites, indicating a need for efficient preventive dental care. <32> UI - 99116995 AU - Kelly CG AU - Younson JS AU - Hikmat BY AU - Todryk SM AU - Czisch M AU - Haris PI AU - Flindall IR AU - Newby C AU - Mallet AI AU - Ma JK AU - Lehner T IN - Department of Immunology, United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK. c.kelly@umds.ac.uk TI - A synthetic peptide adhesion epitope as a novel antimicrobial agent [see comments]. CM - Comment in: Nat Biotechnol 1999 Jan;17(1):20 SO - Nature Biotechnology 1999 Jan;17(1):42-7 AB - The earliest step in microbial infection is adherence by specific microbial adhesins to the mucosa of the oro-intestinal, nasorespiratory, or genitourinary tract. We inhibited binding of a cell surface adhesin of Streptococcus mutans to salivary receptors in vitro, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, using a synthetic peptide (p1025) corresponding to residues 1025-1044 of the adhesin. Two residues within p1025 that contribute to binding (Q1025, E1037) were identified by site-directed mutagenesis. In an in vivo human streptococcal adhesion model, direct application of p1025 to the teeth prevented recolonization of S. mutans but not Actinomyces, as compared with a control peptide or saline. This novel antimicrobial strategy, applying competitive peptide inhibitors of adhesion, may be used against other microorganisms in which adhesins mediate colonization of mucosal surfaces. <33> UI - 99110707 AU - Weerheijm KL AU - Kreulen CM AU - de Soet JJ AU - Groen HJ AU - van Amerongen WE IN - Departments of Cariology, Endodontology, Pedodontology, ACTA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.K.Weerheijm@acta.nl TI - Bacterial counts in carious dentine under restorations: 2-year in vivo effects. SO - Caries Research 1999;33(2):130-4 AB - Little is known about the long-term effects of fluoride-releasing materials on carious dentine in vivo. The aim was to investigate the 2-year influence of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RM-GIC) and amalgam on the bacteriological counts of carious dentine that remained under class I restorations. To enable a split-mouth design, 33 molar pairs in 33 patients (mean age 15.1 years, SD 1.4) were selected, based on clinically and radiographically diagnosed occlusal dentine caries. The enamel of the carious molars was removed, and the carious dentine was sampled under aseptic conditions just beneath the dentinoenamel junction. The molars were alternately restored with RM-GIC or amalgam without further removal of carious dentine. The samples were processed for microbiological determination of total viable counts (TVC), mutans streptococci (MS), and lactobacilli (LB). The molar pairs of 25 patients were reevaluated after 2 years using the same clinical techniques and were permanently restored after complete caries removal. Both materials showed a substantial decrease in numbers of TVC and LB of the carious dentine after the 2-year period. Compared to amalgam, the decrease in the numbers of LB was significantly more pronounced for RM-GIC. No microorganisms were detected in only 11 molars (6 RM-GIC and 5 amalgam) after the 2-year period. Based on this study, we suggest that complete removal of carious dentine is still the best conservative treatment, irrespective of the restorative material used. <34> UI - 99459775 AU - Twetman S AU - Fritzon B AU - Jensen B AU - Hallberg U AU - Stahl B IN - Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Medical and Dental Center, Halmstad, Sweden. TI - Pre- and post-treatment levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in pre-school children. SO - International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 1999 Jun;9(2):93-8 AB - OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of operative and restorative treatment of dental caries on the levels of caries associated microorganisms in saliva and to relate alterations to the type and extent of treatment. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Paediatric Dentistry Department at a central hospital in Sweden. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight pre-school children with severe dental caries scheduled for treatment under general anaesthesia. Chair-side tests were used to estimate the levels of salivary mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and buffer capacity before the surgery and at recall appointments 1 and 6 months after treatment. Caries were assessed according to WHO guidelines and the number of extracted teeth and filled surfaces during surgery were recorded. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that the post-treatment levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) compared to pretreatment levels. Lactobacilli levels were more dramatically reduced than mutans streptococci. The reduction of mutans streptococci was positively correlated to the number of extracted teeth (P < 0.01), but not to the number of restored or ground surfaces. Lactobacilli reduction was not significantly related to the type of treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that extensive operative and restorative dental care effectively reduces the levels of caries associated with microorganisms during a period of at least 6 months. <35> UI - 20002313 AU - Brambilla E AU - Gagliani M AU - Felloni A AU - Garcia-Godoy F AU - Strohmenger L IN - Department of Pedodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Italy. Eugenio.Brambilla@unimi.it TI - Caries-preventive effect of topical amine fluoride in children with high and low salivary levels of mutans streptococci. SO - Caries Research 1999 Nov-Dec;33(6):423-7 AB - The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the salivary mutans streptococci (SMS) level and the effectiveness of a preventive intervention based on a biannual application of an amine fluoride solution (AmF). A total of 284 schoolchildren aged 6 years were recruited from eleven classes of a primary school in Milan and randomly assigned to an experimental (A) and a control group (B). SMS counts were obtained at baseline and caries incidence data (diseased, missing, filled teeth, DMFT) were recorded every 6 months for 5 years. The participants of the experimental group received application of an AmF 1% F(-) solution twice a year on the enamel surfaces of the first permanent molars for 5 years. Control group subjects received application of a placebo solution twice a year on the enamel surfaces of the first molars for the same period. The mean DMFT in the experimental and control groups were 0.56 and 0.22, respectively, at the beginning and 1.14 and 2.06 after 5 years. SMS data allowed children to be classified into low- (0-10(5) CFU/ml of saliva) and high- (>10(5) CFU/ml of saliva) SMS subjects. Survival analysis, performed on the first molar data split by SMS group, showed a significantly higher caries reduction in low-SMS experimental group subjects compared to low-SMS control group subjects after 5 years. No significant differences were found between the two high-SMS experimental and control groups. These findings indicate that the preventive effects of the treatment were significantly lower in subjects who had high SMS. It is concluded that the effectiveness of a simple and economical topical fluoride intervention applicable at a community level is significantly influenced by the SMS level of the subjects involved. Simple AmF preventive interventions, applied on low-SMS subjects, can give significant results in terms of caries reduction. <36> UI - 99449279 AU - Narhi TO AU - Kurki N AU - Ainamo A IN - Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. TI - Saliva, salivary micro-organisms, and oral health in the home-dwelling old elderly--a five-year longitudinal study. SO - Journal of Dental Research 1999 Oct;78(10):1640-6 AB - High scores of chair-side salivary microbial tests have been found to be related to an increased prevalence and incidence of coronal and root caries. Many elderly face an increased risk of the growth of oral microbes, and previous studies have reported high salivary microbial counts in elderly populations. The aim of this follow-up study was to compare, at five-year intervals, stimulated salivary flow rates with the numbers of selected salivary micro-organisms (mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and yeasts) in a group of home-dwelling elderly in Helsinki. A further aim was to study the influence of baseline microbial counts on five-year root caries increments and rates of tooth loss. The baseline study population was comprised of 270 subjects who were all participants in the population-based Helsinki Aging Study. Salivary flow rates and microbial conditions were determined as part of their dental examination at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, in 1990-1991. Of these subjects, 110 underwent a follow-up examination in 1995-1996. Commercially available kits (Dentocult SM strip mutans for mutans streptococci, Dentocult LB for lactobacilli, and Oricult N for yeasts) were used for the enumeration of micro-organisms, after the collection of paraffin-wax-stimulated whole saliva. The stimulated whole saliva flow rates of the subjects were significantly lower at the follow-up than at baseline (paired t test, difference -0.16 mL/min; p < 0.05), whereas buffer capacity was higher (paired t test, difference 0.19 on a three-unit scale; p < 0.05). Apart from lower salivary lactobacilli counts at follow-up (paired t test, difference -0.44 CFUs/mL of saliva; p < 0.001), no changes were found in salivary microbial levels. Salivary microbial counts were clearly associated with the subjects' dentition types: More denture-wearers had high microbial counts than persons with natural dentitions. None of the salivary factors correlated with the root caries incidence or the number of teeth lost during the five-year follow-up. <37> UI - 20018865 AU - Toi CS AU - Cleaton-Jones PE AU - Daya NP IN - Dental Research Institute of the Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa. TI - Mutans streptococci and other caries-associated acidogenic bacteria in five-year-old children in South Africa. SO - Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1999 Aug;14(4):238-43 AB - Correlations between mutans streptococci and caries are inconsistent; some studies show that early caries may occur with other bacterial species possessing the ability to survive, interact and compete with mutans streptococci. This study looked at the relationship between mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus, Actinomyces and Veillonella in saliva and plaque collected from four tooth sites in two ethnic groups, with and without caries. All samples were collected and cultured onto selective media. Colonies were enumerated and identified using biochemical tests. Pearson correlations showed low yet statistically significant correlations between plaque mutans streptococci counts and the number of decayed surfaces (ds) and decayed, missing and filled surfaces (dmfs) of primary teeth in blacks and in coloreds (historical race classification). Salivary mutans streptococci counts correlated with ds and dmfs in coloreds. No relationship was found between ds, dmfs and Lactobacillus, Actinomyces or Veillonella numbers. Significant associations were evident between plaque mutans streptococci and Veillonella and Lactobacillus in black children with caries and between plaque mutans streptococci and Actinomyces and Lactobacillus and Veillonella in colored children. Hence, oral microbes are in constant flux but have interrelationships in children with caries. <38> UI - 99407389 AU - de Soet JJ AU - de Graaff J IN - Department of Oral Microbiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands. TI - Microbiology of carious lesions. [Review] [12 refs] SO - Dental Update 1998 Oct;25(8):319-24 AB - Dental caries is a process in which the enamel, and later the dentine, is demineralized by acids produced by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates. The main indicator bacteria in this process are mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. This article discusses how monitoring of patients' salivary levels of these organisms can help in prevention and treatment of caries in different patient populations. [References: 12] <39> UI - 99092615 AU - Rasheed A AU - Haider M IN - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. TI - Antibacterial activity of Camellia sinensis extracts against dental caries. SO - Archives of Pharmacal Research 1998 Jun;21(3):348-52 AB - Different bacteria were separated from saliva and teeth of cariogenic patients and identified by a variety of morphological and biochemical tests. Extracts of green tea strongly inhibited Escherichia coli, Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus mutans. The antibacterial effect of green and black tea extracts were compared with those of amoxicillin, cephradine and eugenol. <40> UI - 99086088 AU - Steiner M AU - Helfenstein U AU - Menghini G IN - Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, Centre of Dentistry, University of Zurich, Switzerland. steiner@zzmk.unizh.ch TI - Association of salivary mutans streptococci with discoloured pits and fissures. SO - Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology 1998 Dec;26(6):412-7 AB - Experimental studies have demonstrated that mutans streptococci play a major role in caries etiology. Several previous epidemiologic studies found a positive association of salivary mutans streptococci with caries prevalence. The present epidemiologic study aimed at detecting a possible association of salivary mutans streptococci with brown discoloured pits and fissures, supposing that discolouration indicates caries. In the Canton of Zurich 1035 schoolchildren, aged 6.5-12.5, were examined with regard to caries prevalence and presence of discolourations in pits and fissures. A commercially available, semi-quantitative test was used to estimate the salivary level of mutans streptococci in each child. The salivary level (low/high) of mutans streptococci was significantly associated with the presence of slightly brown discoloured (C1), clearly brown discoloured (C2) and cavitated (C3) pits and fissures. The odds ratios were 1.5 (P<0.01) for C1, 2.5 (P<0.001) for C2 and 5.0 (P<0.001) for C3 pits and fissures. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that brown discolouration indicates caries. Furthermore, the findings suggest that this type of discolouration at elementary school age indicates increased caries activity. <41> UI - 99126876 AU - Gunay H AU - Dmoch-Bockhorn K AU - Gunay Y AU - Geurtsen W IN - Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical University Hannover, Germany. TI - Effect on caries experience of a long-term preventive program for mothers and children starting during pregnancy. SO - Clinical Oral Investigations 1998 Sep;2(3):137-42 AB - The aim of this three-phase prospective study was to determine the effects of a primary-primary prevention program on the oral health of children. Eighty-six pregnant women from various social backgrounds participated in the first phase of this study. In the second phase (at 3 years of age) 54 of the mother-child couples and in the third phase (at 4 years of age) 47 of the mother-child couples remained. Participants were recalled every 6 months and received individual prophylactic care. The following clinical parameters were assessed at each examination period for mother and child: DMF-S or dmf-s, proximal plaque index, and the salivary level of Streptococcus mutans (Dentocult SM). The control group consisted of 65 (at 3 years of age) and 45 (at 4 years of age) children from various kindergartens. All children in the second phase of the study group revealed a naturally healthy dentition with an API of 0-25% and a salivary S. mutans score of 0 (0-10(3) cfu/ml). In the third phase, only four of the 47 children of the study group showed caries, with a mean dmf-s of 1.5. No S. mutans could be detected in 20 (42.6%) children. Ten (21.3%) children of the study group showed a S. mutans score of > or = 2 (> 10(5) cfu/ml). In contrast, only 53 of the 65 children of the control group (second phase) and 26 of the 45 control children (third phase) revealed a naturally healthy dentition. The remaining 19 children of the control group revealed a mean dmf-s of 7.0 at 4 years of age. In the control group, no S. mutans could be detected in 25 (38.5%) children at 3 years of age whereas 21 (32.3%) children showed a S. mutans score of > or = 2. In the third phase, a salivary S. mutans score of > or = 2 was found in 27 (60%) children of the control group. The statistical comparison between the study and the control groups revealed significant differences for all results determined (P < 0.001). Additionally, all mothers revealed a significant improvement in oral health and a reduction of salivary S. mutans colonization. From our data we conclude that a pre- and postnatal prevention program (primary-primary vs primary prevention) may significantly improve the oral health of mother and child. <42> UI - 99089283 AU - Nakamura T AU - Hirai K AU - Shibata Y AU - Fujimura S IN - Department of Oral Microbiology, Matsumoto Dental University School of Dentistry, NAGANO-Ken, Japan. TI - Purification and properties of a bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque. SO - Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1998 Dec;13(6):387-9 AB - An extracellular bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque was purified and characterized. Its molecular mass was 3500 Da and pI was 10.5. This bacteriocin inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus mitis, but Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and other oral indigenous bacterial species examined were not inhibited. The mode of inhibition was found to be bacteriostatic. <43> UI - 99004731 AU - Shi W AU - Jewett A AU - Hume WR IN - School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1668, USA. TI - Rapid and quantitative detection of Streptococcus mutans with species-specific monoclonal antibodies. SO - Hybridoma 1998 Aug;17(4):365-71 AB - Streptococcus mutans is known to be a prime etiologic agent for the initiation and progression of human dental caries. Rapid, accurate, and quantitative detection of S. mutans will help us better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of dental caries and will help to develop methods for caries diagnosis and risk assessment. This study describes the development of three highly species-specific monoclonal IgG antibodies against S. mutans. The antibodies were used to develop a number of methods that quantitatively detect S. mutans in less <1 min and are sensitive enough to detect a single bacterial cell. These methods could be widely used in basic and clinical studies related to S. mutans and in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of caries in humans. <44> UI - 99012597 AU - Olmez A AU - Can H AU - Ayhan H AU - Okur H IN - Gazi University, Faculty of Dentistry Department of Pedodontics, Turkey. TI - Effect of an alum-containing mouthrinse in children for plaque and salivary levels of selected oral microflora. SO - Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry 1998 Summer;22(4):335-40 AB - The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of daily supervised rinsing with a specially formulated, alum-containing mouthrinse on plaque and salivary levels of S. mutans, S. mitis and S. salivarius in caries susceptible children (12-14 years old) and to monitor the effect on the oral tissues and acceptability to subjects. Forty-five subjects were divided into 3 groups (n = 15). Group I received an experimental group with a mouthrinse containing hydrated aluminum potassium sulfate (alum). Group 2 received a vehicle control group containing the same mouthrinse, but without alum and Group 3 had a treatment control with distilled water. All subjects continued normal oral hygiene habits during the study. Salivary and plaque levels were obtained at base line, 2 weeks and 4 weeks and evaluated for microbiologic procedures. Also, potential adverse effects on oral tissues were performed during every visit. The mean plaque and salivary levels of oral Streptococcus (S. mutans, S. mitis, S. salivarius) for the experimental group were significantly reduced after 2 weeks and 4 weeks compared with baseline. The plaque and salivary levels of oral Streptococcus of experimental and vehicle control group differed statistically from each other after 4 weeks, with the strongest reduction in the experimental group and there was statistically difference between treatment control and vehicle control or experimental groups at each time interval. No evidence of deleterious effects to the oral tissues was observed. Daily use of an alum-containing mouthrinse was safe and produced significant reduction effect on plaque and salivary levels of oral Streptococcus and can be used in children for the preventive dentistry. <45> UI - 98413377 AU - Nishimura M AU - Bhuiyan MM AU - Matsumura S AU - Shimono T IN - Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Dental School, Japan. TI - Assessment of the caries activity test (Cariostat) based on the infection levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in 2- to 13-year-old children's dental plaque. SO - ASDC Journal of Dentistry for Children 1998 Jul-Aug;65(4):248-51, 229 AB - It is generally agreed that mutans streptococci and lactobacilli are associated etiologically with dental caries. The caries activity test, Cariostat, was designed to measure the pH decrease caused by microorganisms in the plaque sample obtained from the buccal surfaces. Researchers found the test to be a reliable, diagnostic, and predictive device. Incubation was done on MS and MSB plates in an atmosphere of 95 percent N and 5 percent CO at 37 degrees C and for 48 hours. The relationship of the Cariostat scores and the pH values are shown in a table. The test scores are shown for two age-groups: Ages two-to-six years with primary dentitions, and ages five-to-thirteen years with mixed dentitions. The advantages of the Cariostat test are: the sampling method is simple and the time of analysis is short; the test can be used for the very young and for patients difficult to manage; and it requires no specialized knowledge or equipment. <46> UI - 99000627 AU - Straetemans MM AU - van Loveren C AU - de Soet JJ AU - de Graaff J AU - ten Cate JM IN - Department of Cariology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), The Netherlands. TI - Colonization with mutans streptococci and lactobacilli and the caries experience of children after the age of five. SO - Journal of Dental Research 1998 Oct;77(10):1851-5 AB - Some authors suggest that there is a "window of infectivity" for mutans streptococci (MS) at an early age, after which colonization is not likely to occur. Moreover, children with low or non-detectable levels of MS at an early age are at lower risk for caries. It was our aim to study caries experience and colonization with MS and lactobacilli in a group of children at 11 years of age who had been documented to have been MS-free until 5 years of age. For this group, the mfs and MFS values at 11 years of age were found to be 1.12+/-2.81 and 0.44+/-0.88, respectively. These values are much lower than those of a control group of 11-year-old children who had always been MS-positive since the age of 2, being 3.10+/-3.43 and 1.20+/-1.91, respectively. Of the 30 children without detectable MS up to the age of 5, 22 had acquired MS at 11 years of age, but their MS counts were significantly lower than those of the control group. No correlation was observed between the levels of MS of the children and the mothers. In children at 11 years of age, no differences were found in the numbers of lactobacilli and sugar intakes per week between the children MS-free and the children MS-colonized at 5 years of age. The present study indicates that the acquisition of MS is still possible after the so-called "window of infectivity" and that a delayed acquisition of MS may reduce the caries experience in the primary and permanent dentition at a later age. <47> UI - 99024252 AU - van Loveren C AU - Buijs JF AU - Bokhout B AU - Prahl-Andersen B AU - Ten Cate JM IN - Department of Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. TI - Incidence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in oral cleft children wearing acrylic plates from shortly after birth. SO - Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1998 Oct;13(5):286-91 AB - Children with a palatal cleft can be treated with preoperative infant orthopedics including an acrylic plate that is applied shortly after birth to obturate the cleft. It is advised to wear these plates until the 18th month of age. Such a plate, being a hard non-shedding surface, may be expected to facilitate early colonization of mutans streptococci. The first aim of the present investigation was to assess the incidence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in children with cleft lip and/or palate during the first 2 years of life. The second aim was to study whether preoperative orthopedics, that is, the wearing of an acrylic plate, had facilitated the establishment of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. The third aim was to determine other factors associated with colonization of these organisms in these children. Sixty-two Caucasian Dutch children with cleft lip and/or palate participated in this study. Twenty-four of these children were treated with preoperative infant orthopedics and had been wearing an acrylic plate from within a few days after birth. At regular control visits plaque and saliva samples and samples from the surface of the acrylic plate were taken, while a dental examination was performed to document the emergence of the primary teeth, caries status, gingival condition and oral hygiene procedures. Saliva samples were also taken from the accompanying parents. At the visit at the age of 18 months, the parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. At this age, the prevalence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli was compared to that in a control group of non-cleft children. The oral cleft children wearing an acrylic plate from shortly after birth were colonized earlier with mutans streptococci and lactobacilli than the non-plate oral cleft children. In the children wearing acrylic plates, the prevalence of lactobacilli decreased with age, while the prevalence of mutans streptococci increased. At the age of 18 months the prevalence of mutans streptococci was comparable in both groups of oral cleft children and in the control children. There was no relation between the numbers of mutans streptococci in the saliva of the mothers and their children. The presence of mutans streptococci in the saliva of the oral cleft children was significantly associated with between-meal snacking and with the presence of lactobacilli. <48> UI - 99024250 AU - Emanuelsson IR AU - Li Y AU - Bratthall D IN - Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Lund University, Sweden. TI - Genotyping shows different strains of mutans streptococci between father and child and within parental pairs in Swedish families. SO - Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1998 Oct;13(5):271-7 AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an intrafamilial similarity of mutans streptococcal strains in some Swedish families using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting. Plaque samples were obtained from buccal and occlusal surfaces of 25 three-year-old children, their mothers and 18 fathers. The colonization levels of mutants streptococci were estimated with the "Strip mutans" test, and caries experience was scored by decayed, missing and filled teeth or decayed, extracted and filled teeth. Interviews about medical history, diet regimes, breastfeeding and care of the child were performed. In 11 families isolates of mutans streptococci were detected in all three individuals. These isolates were serotyped by immunofluorescent technique and genotyped using the restriction endonuclease Hae III. The results showed that 5 children harbored mutans streptococci genotypes different from their parents. Six children showed genotypes identical to their mothers. None of the children harbored genotypes similar to their fathers, even though two thirds of the fathers had high or very high mutans streptococci levels. No matching of genotypes was observed within the 11 parental pairs. Mothers as primary caregivers with high "Strip mutans" scores were more often observed in the group with identical genotypes within the mother-child pairs, the "matching group", than in the "no-matching group". These data indicate that the fathers and the children had not acquired each others' strains of mutans streptococci nor had the spouses. The results suggest that the children acquired mutans streptococci both from outside and inside the family. <49> UI - 98368978 AU - Mattos-Graner RO AU - Zelante F AU - Line RC AU - Mayer MP IN - Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry of Sao Paulo, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. p-graner@siso.fo.usp.br TI - Association between caries prevalence and clinical, microbiological and dietary variables in 1.0 to 2.5-year-old Brazilian children. SO - Caries Research 1998;32(5):319-23 AB - The association between caries prevalence and clinical (presence of visible plaque in the labial surfaces of maxillary incisors), microbiological (salivary levels of mutans streptococci) and dietary variables was evaluated in 142 1.0- to 2.5-year-old children attending public day-care nurseries in the city of Piracicaba - Sao Paulo. A significant difference in caries prevalence was observed between those children with and without visible plaque (chi2 = 12.08, p < 0.001). The mean ds (decayed surfaces) was significantly higher in children with visible plaque on the maxillary incisors than in children without it (p < 0.001). Mutans streptococci were detected in 114 (80.3%) of the children. A significantly higher caries prevalence was observed in children with high levels of mutans streptococci compared to children with low levels (chi2 = 28.67, p < 0.001). The mean ds was significantly higher in children with levels of mutans streptococci greater than 50 CFU when compared to children with 0 CFU or 1-50 CFU of mutans streptococci (p < 0.05). Children who were either never breast-fed or only until 3 months exhibited a significantly higher caries prevalence than those breast-fed for a longer time (chi2 = 4.11, p < 0.05). A significantly higher caries prevalence was also observed between children that used bottle containing milk with sucrose and cereal than children using bottle with milk with or without sucrose (chi2 = 6.24, p < 0.05). Children who started to eat salty meals at or after 7 months of age showed a significant higher caries prevalence than children who started earlier (chi2 = 10.30, p < 0.01). These data support the evidence of an association between caries prevalence in young children and mutans streptococci levels, clinical and dietary factors. <50> UI - 98353063 AU - Angelillo IF AU - Anfosso R AU - Nobile CG AU - Pavia M IN - Medical School, University of Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Italy. TI - Prevalence of dental caries in schoolchildren in Italy [published erratum appears in Eur J Epidemiol 1998 Oct;14(7):733]. SO - European Journal of Epidemiology 1998 Jun;14(4):351-7 AB - The caries experience and its potential risk indicators such as socioeconomic status, sweets consumption, toothbrushing habits, dental visit attendance pattern and salivary mutans streptococci (in 12 year old only), were assessed in schoolchildren raised and living in low fluoridated areas (Catanzaro, Italy). Caries-free prevalence in the 6-year-old was 52.9% in their primary dentition; the dmft and dmfs were 2.1 and 5.1, and both DMFT and DMFS were 0.1. Almost 91% of the dmft was attributable to active decay. The proportion of children with a dmft+DMFT > or = 1 and the dmft and dmfs were significantly higher in those with low socio-economic status. In the 12-year-old, 52.7% had a history of caries and the DMFT and DMFS were 1.5 and 2.6; the filled component was the dominant proportion. The more likely they visited a dentist for routine checkup, the higher socio-economic status (it was not associated with DMFT), the less frequently they had sweets, and the low level of Streptococcus mutans, the more likely they were caries-free and the less likely they were to have a high DMFT, DMFS, and DT. In the 15-year-old, 68.8% had a history of caries and the DMFT and DMFS were 2.8 and 4.8, with a higher prevalence of the F component. The children who visited a dentist for routine checkup had a significantly lower caries experience, DMFT, DMFS, and DT than the irregular attenders, and those with low socio-economic background were more likely to have a high DMFS. <51> UI - 98364591 AU - Allaker RP AU - Seddon SV AU - Tredwin C AU - Lynch E IN - Department of Oral Microbiology, St. Bartholomew's, London, UK. R.P.Allaker@mds.qmw.ac.uk TI - Detection of Streptococcus mutans by PCR amplification of the spaP gene in teeth rendered caries free. SO - Journal of Dentistry 1998 Jul-Aug;26(5-6):443-5 AB - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the degree of association between tactile and optical criteria as used to assess the carious status of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) during cavity preparation, assessment with a caries detector dye and detection of Streptococcus mutans using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. METHODS: Twenty-nine teeth, extracted within the previous 30 min, and 15 teeth prepared under rubber dam in vivo, were clinically assessed at the EDJ after the removal of evident carious tissue. Demineralisation was then assessed using a caries detector dye (1% acid red in propylene glycol; Cavex). A rosehead bur was used to remove tissue at the EDJ for culture and PCR analysis. Culture was carried out on a tryptone yeast cystine sucrose bacitracin selective medium, and PCR used to amplify a sequence (192 bp) of the spaP gene, which encodes the surface protein antigen I/II of S. mutans. RESULTS: Demineralised tissue at the EDJ, as shown using the dye, was found in 52% of teeth. Removed tissue was culture and PCR positive for S. mutans in 2 and 47% of teeth, respectively. A highly significant association (77% of cases; P < 0.001) was shown between dye and PCR assessment methods. No association was found between any other combination of assessment methods. CONCLUSIONS: Culture methods may underestimate the presence of S. mutans. Removal of sufficient dye-stained tissue is therefore recommended to prevent further carious assault from residual S. mutans. <52> UI - 98345892 AU - Persson RE AU - Persson GR AU - Kiyak HA AU - Powell LV IN - Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. TI - Oral health and medical status in dentate low-income older persons. SO - Special Care in Dentistry 1998 Mar-Apr;18(2):70-7 AB - Oral and medical conditions of 295 low-income dentate older persons (17% African-Americans, 14.5% Asians, 11.5% Hispanics, and 57% Caucasians) were studied. The mean age was 72 (SD +/- 6.8; range, 60-91). Oral examinations were performed, stimulated saliva was collected, and interviews were conducted regarding oral health attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. Past history of restorative care, defined by filled coronal surfaces, differed by ethnicity, with Caucasian elders having most filled surfaces (p < 0.001). Ethnic minority elders had significantly poorer periodontal health (p < 0.001), with the worst conditions in Asians. Low salivary flow (< 0.01 mL/min) was found in 31% using medications known to cause hyposalivation. Frequent diseases were arthritis (46%), hypertension (39%), heart disease (25.2%), and diabetes (8.5%). Hypothyroidism was associated with low flow rate (F = 13.2, p < 0.0003). Seventy percent reported that they had never smoked. Smokers had deeper probing depths (chi 2 = 11.98, p < 0.05) and more gingival recession (F = 8.08, p < 0.001). Women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had less calculus (F = 11.33, p < 0.01) and fewer sites with probing depths > 5 mm (F = 8.99, p < 0.003). The present study found few associations between physical and oral health and ethnicity. The benefits of HRT for women's periodontal health and the effects of hypothyroidism on stimulated salivary flow are noteworthy. <53> UI - 98383519 AU - Fure S AU - Lingstrom P AU - Birkhed D IN - Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Goteborg, Sweden. TI - Effect of three months' frequent use of sugar-free chewing gum with and without urea on calculus formation. SO - Journal of Dental Research 1998 Aug;77(8):1630-7 AB - Studies on the relationship between gum-chewing and calculus formation have produced contradictory results, and it is not clear whether frequent use of chewing gum promotes or inhibits calculus formation. Also, little is known about whether the addition of a small amount of urea to the chewing gum influences calculus formation. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of sugar-free chewing gum--with and without urea--on calculus formation and some associated clinical variables. Three three-month periods were studied in a double-blind, crossover design, during which the subjects: (1) chewed 5 pieces/day of a sugar-free, urea-containing chewing gum (20 mg urea/piece); (2) chewed 5 pieces/day of a sugar-free, non-urea-containing gum; or (3) performed no gum-chewing. Twenty-nine persons, all calculus-formers, participated. They were scored for calculus at mesio-lingual, lingual, and disto-lingual sites on the 6 anterior mandibular teeth according to the Volpe-Manhold index. Plaque and gingival bleeding index, stimulated salivary secretion rate and buffer capacity, resting plaque pH, mutans streptococci in saliva and plaque, and lactobacilli in saliva were also determined. No differences in calculus formation were found among the 3 periods. The resting plaque pH was higher after the period with urea-containing gum than after the period with non-urea-containing gum and the no-gum period (p < 0.05). A slight increase in stimulated salivary secretion rate was found after the 2 gum periods (p < 0.05). The plaque and gingival bleeding indices decreased, while resting plaque pH and salivary buffer capacity increased throughout the entire study (p < 0.05). No significant differences in prevalence of the acidogenic micro-organisms were found among the test periods. The main conclusion from this study is that three months' frequent use of sugar-free chewing gum--with or without urea--neither promotes nor inhibits calculus formation. <54> UI - 98302557 AU - Collin HL AU - Uusitupa M AU - Niskanen L AU - Koivisto AM AU - Markkanen H AU - Meurman JH IN - Department of Oral and Dental Diseases, University of Kuopio, Finland. TI - Caries in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. SO - Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, & Endodontics 1998 Jun;85(6):680-5 AB - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and to determine whether these factors are associated with metabolic control and vascular complications of the disease. STUDY DESIGN: Both the occurrence of caries, acidogenic oral bacteria, and yeasts and salivary flow were studied in 25 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus whose diagnosis had been set 13 to 14 years earlier and in whom the metabolic evolution of the disease was well established. The patients' glycemic control was determined by means of analysis of the blood hemoglobin A1C concentration at the time of dental examination. The control group consisted of 40 nondiabetic subjects in the same age group. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth indices and numbers of surfaces with caries, filled surfaces, and root caries were determined by means of clinical dental caries examination. Stimulated salivary flow was measured, and levels of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, and yeasts were analyzed. RESULTS: The median hemoglobin A1C concentration of the patients was 8.6%, which indicates poor metabolic control of diabetes. No association was found between the metabolic control of disease and dental caries. The occurrence of dental caries was not increased in the patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in comparison with the control subjects. The counts of acidogenic microbes and yeasts did not differ statistically significantly between the groups. There was no association of caries with the prevalence of coronary artery disease or hypertension in either the patients or the control subjects. In a stepwise logistic regression model, a salivary flow of at least 0.8 ml/min was related to the occurrence of dental caries in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, whereas negligence with respect to dental care was the most important risk predictor in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed no effect of diabetes on the prevalence of caries. However, the caries-protective effect of saliva was partly lost in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. <55> UI - 98214452 AU - Tichy J AU - Novak J IN - Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice u Prahy, Czech Republic. TI - Extraction, assay, and analysis of antimicrobials from plants with activity against dental pathogens (Streptococcus sp.) [see comments]. CM - Comment in: J Altern Complement Med 1998 Spring;4(1):47 SO - Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 1998 Spring;4(1):39-45 AB - Many dental and periodontal diseases are largely a question of bacterial etiology. Dental caries develop due to an increase of strongly acidogenic and aciduric gram-positive bacteria while common forms of periodontal disease are linked to anaerobic gram-negative bacteria in subgingival plaque. Many plants and plant-derived antimicrobial components are used in folklore therapeutics for the treatment of periodontal disorders and for the purposes of oral hygiene. Some have been evaluated for possible use in modern medicine, while thousands of other potentially useful/plants have not been tested. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of screening for antibacterials isolated from plants with activity against three representatives of oral streptococci. We developed and tested the following methodologies: (1) Extraction of antibacterial components from plants; (2) Assays for antibacterial activity; (3) Chromatographic methods for initial analysis of compounds of interest. The screening process for plant antimicrobials consisted of extraction of plant material and assay of antibacterial activity using a spotting test with the selected oral streptococci as indicator strains. In addition, we developed chromatographic procedures that allow characterization and optimization of initial isolation steps. Depending on the indicator microorganisms used, the screening assay can target additional pathogens including other streptococci (group A and B, and pneumococci) and periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas. Also, we noted that the activity of some extracts varied against different oral bacteria. Our conclusion, supported by extensive data, was that the screening for antimicrobials from plants is a feasible approach to the identification of natural compounds with antimicrobial properties against dental pathogens. <56> UI - 98234905 AU - Moore MA AU - Gregory RL AU - Switalski LM AU - Hakki ZW AU - Gfell LE AU - Kowolik MJ IN - Department of Oral Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5186, USA. TI - Differential activation of human neutrophils by Streptococcus mutans isolates from root surface lesions and caries-free and caries-active subjects. SO - Oral Microbiology & Immunology 1998 Feb;13(1):41-6 AB - Phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens is an important defense mechanism and may contribute to regulating Streptococcus mutans-induced dental caries, particularly at root surfaces. This study was undertaken to examine and compare differences in polymorphonuclear leukocyte or neutrophil activation by clinical isolates of S. mutans collected from the saliva of caries-free or caries-active individuals with S. mutans isolates from root surface lesions. S. mutans clinical isolates (5 caries-free, 5 caries-active, 5 root caries isolates and a laboratory strain) were incubated with neutrophils in the presence of normal human serum and the luminol dependent chemiluminescence was measured for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Results indicated that the caries active and laboratory strains activated neutrophils equally. The mean integration stimulated by caries-free strains, however, displayed a 25-30% enhanced neutrophil activation over the caries-active and laboratory strains. In contrast, neutrophil activation by root caries strains of S. mutans was 45-50% lower than all other S. mutans strains, possibly suggesting a natural selection for S. mutans strains that can evade neutrophil recognition and subsequent phagocytosis. Stimulation of neutrophils with the cell wall and membrane surface component preparations indicated that extracts from all four groups activated neutrophils significantly. Again, caries-free preparations activated neutrophils significantly more than caries active, laboratory strain and root caries isolates. This selection may become more important on root surfaces due to increased exposure to crevicular fluid and neutrophils. The data provide evidence for the presence or onset of mechanisms or biological alterations in S. mutans developed to circumvent neutrophil recognition and/or phagocytosis, thus increasing S. mutans survival and colonization on tooth surfaces, resulting in an enhanced risk of dental caries, particularly at root surfaces. <57> UI - 98256831 AU - Fennis-le YL AU - Verdonschot EH AU - Burgersdijk RC AU - Konig KG AU - van 't Hof MA IN - TRIKON, Institute for Dental Clinical Research, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. TI - Effect of 6-monthly applications of chlorhexidine varnish on incidence of occlusal caries in permanent molars: a 3-year study. SO - Journal of Dentistry 1998 Mar;26(3):233-8 AB - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a chlorhexidine varnish on occlusal caries incidence when applied 6-monthly into the fissures of erupting and freshly erupted permanent molars. METHODS: In a double-blind clinical trial, 332 children aged 5/6 and 11/12 years attending a Child Dental Health Centre were randomly assigned to a control and an experimental group. Criteria for inclusion in the study were that all first permanent molars in 5-6-year-olds and all second permanent molars in 11-12-year-olds either had recently erupted, or were in a stage of eruption, or would erupt within half a year. At baseline, counts of dmfs/DMFS and mutans streptococci in saliva were recorded. During a maximum of 3 years, every 6 months the occlusal surfaces of molars in the experimental group received a 40% chlorhexidine varnish application, whereas those in the control group received a placebo varnish application. RESULTS: Data of 316 children were analysed and ANOVA showed no significant occlusal caries reduction in this sample of Dutch 5/6- and 11/12-year-old children. After stratification into low and high caries risk groups, a statistically significant caries-reducing effect on occlusal caries in permanent molars was found in the group of children with > or = 10(6) mutans streptococci per ml saliva (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Six-monthly application of chlorhexidine varnish has no caries-reducing effect on occlusal caries in recently erupted permanent molars in a population with low caries prevalence. <58> UI - 98204416 AU - Lundgren M AU - Emilson CG AU - Osterberg T IN - Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Goteborg University, Sweden. TI - Root caries and some related factors in 88-year-old carriers and non-carriers of Streptococcus sobrinus in saliva. SO - Caries Research 1998;32(2):93-9 AB - The prevalence of caries on exposed root surfaces in 88-year-old subjects with and without salivary levels of Streptococcus sobrinus was studied. Ninety-two individuals were examined with regard to root caries lesions and fillings. The root caries index (RCI) was calculated and related to salivary flow rate and buffer capacity, plaque score and salivary counts of Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrinus and lactobacilli. In 89 subjects with exposed root surfaces, all but 2 harbored mutans streptococci; 51 subjects carried S. mutans only, 35 both S. sobrinus and S. mutans, and 1 S. sobrinus only. The RCI was significantly higher in persons with than those without S. sobrinus (p < 0.05). Subjects with both S. sobrinus and S. mutans had higher counts of total mutans streptococci and lactobacilli than subjects with only S. mutans (p < 0.05). The RCI was significantly correlated to S. sobrinus and S. mutans (p < 0.05). The positive correlation between the RCI and S. sobrinus was still significant when the other tested variables were kept constant, whereas the correlation between the RCI and S. mutans was weaker when S. sobrinus and lactobacilli were kept constant. The D-component of the RCI (DSr%) was significantly correlated to S. sobrinus, S. mutans and lactobacilli, whereas the F-component of the RCI showed no significant correlation to any of the tested variables. A stepwise multiple correlation showed that the variance of DSr% was best explained in the S. sobrinus carriers by S. sobrinus and the salivary buffer effect, and in the non-carriers by S. mutans. <59> UI - 98170785 AU - Mohan A AU - Morse DE AU - O'Sullivan DM AU - Tinanoff N IN - Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-1610, USA. TI - The relationship between bottle usage/content, age, and number of teeth with mutans streptococci colonization in 6-24-month-old children. SO - Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology 1998 Feb;26(1):12-20 AB - OBJECTIVES: Mutans streptococci (MS) are the primary pathogens involved in the development of early childhood caries. However, factors that may affect their acquisition in the mouths of young children are not well understood, and the period of initial colonization remains controversial. This study investigated the relationship of age, number of teeth, and bottle usage/content with regard to the isolation of MS in 6-24-month-old children. METHODS: A total of 122 children from low-income families attending a nutritional supplement program, and their mothers, participated in this study. Children were examined for dental caries and number of erupted teeth and were sampled for MS. Mothers were administered a questionnaire to obtain details of baby bottle use, including what food items were put in the bottle during the last week. RESULTS: MS was detected in more than one-third of the 6-24-month-olds. Unlike some studies that suggest a later period of infectivity, approximately 20% of children under 14 months of age, including 4 of 22 infants aged 6-9 months, were colonized with MS. When examined separately, age, number of teeth, and bottle usage/content were each found to be related to the presence of MS. Mutans streptococci colonization was more likely with increasing age and number of teeth, and children whose bottles contained sweetened beverages were more likely to be colonized than children whose bottles contained milk. Logistic regression models that controlled for both age and number of teeth indicated that children who consumed sweetened beverages in their baby bottle had a statistically significant, four-fold increase in the odds of colonization by MS relative to children who consumed milk. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that approximately 20% of the children under 14 months of age were infected with MS indicates that colonization in this sample of low-income preschool children may begin earlier than suggested by some investigations. Additionally, the risk of MS colonization appears lower among infants who consume milk rather than sweetened beverages in the bottle. <60> UI - 99459753 AU - Hofling JF AU - Spolidori DM AU - Rosa EA AU - Pereira CV AU - Moreira D IN - Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. hofling@fop.unicamp.br TI - Salivary counts of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in children ageing 6-8 year old having a socioeconomic background in Brazil. SO - Indian Journal of Dental Research 1998 Jul-Sep;9(3):91-7 AB - Saliva samples from students aged 6 to 8 year-old were analysed in order to determine the incidence of Streptococcus group mutans and Lactobacillus. Two hundred children were examined, distributed in five socioeconomic categories (A to E). Stimulated saliva samples were collected and inoculated into the SB20 and Rogsa agar culture medium for the Streptococcus and Lactobacillus cultivation. After growth, the number of these microorganisms (CUF/mL) was determined after identification of the representative colonies by biochemical methods on the basis of carbohydrate fermentation. A significative part of the population, particularly among the lower socioeconomic categories (D/E) was considered a high risk group in developing dental caries because of the high number of Streptococcus group mutans and Lactobacillus. <61> UI - 20018731 AU - Shi S AU - Liang Q AU - Hayashi Y AU - Yakushiji M AU - Machida Y IN - Department of Pedodontics, School of Stomatology, Shanghai Tiedao University (STU), Zhabei District, PR China. TI - The relationship between caries activity and the status of dental caries--application of the Dentocult SM method. SO - Chinese Journal of Dental Research 1998 Dec;1(3):52-5 AB - OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between caries activity and the status of dental caries in preschool children using a caries activity test (CAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The status of primary tooth caries in 229 children ages 3 to 5 was examined. Caries incidence, DFT, and caries severity index (CSI) were calculated. Based on the quantity of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity detected with Dentocult SM, a caries activity test, four grades of caries activity were classified: Grade 0 (< 10(4) colony-forming units/mL), Grade I (10(4)-10(5) CFU/mL), Grade II (10(5)-10(6) CFU/mL), and Grade III (> 10(6) CFU/mL). RESULTS: The results showed that 79.48% children had Grade I or higher caries severity. Significant differences of caries activity were found among different grades, which were highly correlated with caries incidence, DFT, and CSI (r = 0.22216, 0.31212, and 0.32276, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As a CAT, Dentocult SM is a reliable method for measuring the status of dental caries in preschool children. It is also a valuable tool in the prevention and treatment of dental caries. <62> UI - 99264755 AU - Ulukapi H AU - Koray F AU - Efes B IN - Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Istanbul, Turkey. TI - Monitoring the caries risk of orthodontic patients. SO - Quintessence International 1997 Jan;28(1):27-9 AB - Several caries activity tests were used to investigate the caries risk of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Twenty young individuals, with a mean age of 11 years, participated in this study. Ten subjects were free of any orthodontic appliances and formed the control group. The other 10 individuals had been wearing fixed orthodontic appliances for at least 4 months. Stimulated saliva samples were obtained from all patients. Saliva samples were used to investigate the salivary flow rate, the salivary buffer capacity, and mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts. The orthodontic patients exhibited a significant increase in salivary flow rate. Results of statistical analyses were nonsignificant in all other tests, suggesting that fixed orthodontic appliances are not the sole factor increasing the patient's caries risk during orthodontic treatment. <63> UI - 98253139 AU - Segura A AU - Donly KJ AU - Wefel JS AU - Drake D IN - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA. TI - Effect of enamel microabrasion on bacterial colonization. SO - American Journal of Dentistry 1997 Dec;10(6):272-4 AB - PURPOSE: To determine if microabraded surfaces inhibit Streptococcus mutans colonization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten extracted molars were obtained and sectioned in half mesio-distally. The mesial side was treated with microabrasion (PREMA Compound). The distal surface was designated as the control site. A plastic tube was secured on each surface with resin composite, exposing a surface of 13.2 mm 2. S. mutans 10,499 was cultured in TSB-YE supplemented with 5% sucrose and 2.5% glucose was added to each secured site in addition to 50 microliters of cell suspension. Samples were incubated in a 5% CO2 chamber for 7 days at 37 degrees C. Samples were taken from each site, incubated with dextranase (75 micrograms 1 ml), sonicated, and vortexed to disrupt cellular aggregates as much as possible. Samples were then plated on Mitis-Salivarius agar using a spiral plating system. Enumeration of numbers of colonizing bacteria was achieved following standard spiral plating system methodology. RESULTS: The mean for the microabraded group was 1.12 x 10(2) cfu/tooth and for the control it was 1.15 x 10(4). Analyzing the data revealed a significant difference (P = 0.0188). <64> UI - 98243508 AU - Kolavic SA AU - Gibson G AU - al-Hashimi I AU - Guo IY IN - Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA. TI - The level of cariogenic micro-organisms in patients with Sjogren's syndrome. SO - Special Care in Dentistry 1997 Mar-Apr;17(2):65-9 AB - Sixteen patients with caries-inactive sjogren's syndrome with low parotid salivary flow rates (< 0.25 mL/min) and 18 caries-inactive control subjects with higher salivary flow rates were compared. Mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) counts were measured by means of Dentocult SM strip mutans and LB assays. The group with Sjogren's syndrome displayed higher counts of MS (P = 0.014) and LB (p = 0.003) when compared with controls. The results of this study indicate that patients with caries-inactive Sjogren's syndrome and low salivary flow may have higher colonization of cariogenic micro-organisms than healthy individuals. <65> UI - 98273219 AU - Lundgren M AU - Birkhed D AU - Steen G AU - Emilson CG AU - Osterberg T AU - Steen B IN - Department of Cariology, Goteborg University, Sweden. TI - Oral glucose clearance in nonagenarians in relation to functional capacity, medication and oral variables. SO - Gerodontology 1997 Jul;14(1):17-27 AB - OBJECTIVES: To study oral sugar (glucose) clearance and to examine some factors which were believed to either influence or be dependent upon oral glucose clearance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, clinical study with analysis of records. SETTING: Goteborg gerontological and geriatric population studies, Goteborg University, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 71 community-dwelling individuals, 27 men and 44 women, of a representative sample of 260 92-year-old persons. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glucose concentration was measured in saliva after chewing of a glucose tablet and the clearance was assessed by three different variables: (i) the initial salivary glucose concentration, (ii) the area under the curve (AUC) and (iii) the clearance time. RESULTS: The glucose clearance showed a wide inter-individual variation, which could be explained partly by differences in oral state, chewing time, stimulated salivary secretion rate and medication use. A positive correlation was found between the clearance variables and the number of lactobacilli and mutans streptococci in saliva and the percentage of untreated root caries lesions of the total number of exposed root surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: A slow oral sugar clearance is more common among 92-year-olds than younger adults earlier reported in other studies, particularly in those who have uncompensated functional impairments and a high medication history. A decreased oral glucose clearance was associated with high counts of salivary lactobacilli and mutans streptococci and a high proportion of untreated root caries lesions. <66> UI - 98157021 AU - Lehane RJ AU - Murray PA AU - Deasy MJ IN - Department of Periodontics, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, Newark 07103-2425, USA. TI - Effect of an enzymatic rinse on salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in periodontally treated patients. SO - Periodontal Clinical Investigations 1997 Fall;19(2):17-21 AB - Root surface caries is prevalent in patients with both treated and untreated periodontal disease. The major etiologic factor has been identified as microbial plaque. In periodontally treated patients, significantly higher root caries prevalence and incidence have been found in patients with high levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli in saliva. Reducing the levels of S. mutans and Lactobacilli in saliva may lower the risk of root caries development. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of an oral enzymatic rinse on the salivary counts of S. mutans and Lactobacilli in periodontally treated patients. Fifteen adult subjects participated in a double-blind, cross-over designed clinical trial. Each subject had previously undergone comprehensive periodontal therapy and had been maintained on a regular program of supportive periodontal therapy. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected from each participant. Each subject was then randomly given either the enzymatic rinse product or a control rinse and instructed to rinse with one tablespoonful twice a day for 2 weeks, after which saliva samples were taken. After a washout period, salivary samples were again taken, and the subjects received the alternate rinse product. Two weeks later, final salivary samples were taken. The salivary samples were serially diluted and incubated aerobically on selective culture media. S. mutans and Lactobacilli were counted on the basis of colonial morphology. Pretreatment and posttreatment salivary counts of S. mutans and Lactobacilli were analyzed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test at the 5% level of significance. Analysis of data revealed that neither the test nor the control rinse significantly lowered salivary counts of either species in the sample population. <67> UI - 98207494 AU - Carlsson A AU - Petersson M AU - Twetman S IN - Public Dental Clinic, Vallas, Sweden. TI - 2-year clinical performance of a fluoride-containing fissure sealant in young schoolchildren at caries risk. SO - American Journal of Dentistry 1997 Jun;10(3):115-9 AB - PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical performance of Helioseal-F, a fluoride-containing fissure sealant, in school children at caries risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A caries risk assessment based on past caries experience, saliva microbial tests, buffer capacity and frequency of sugar intake was carried out in 204 healthy children, 6-7 years of age. Children exhibiting one or more risk factors were considered at caries risk (n = 121) and their permanent molars were sealed with a fluoride-containing fissure sealant, thus forming a fissure sealant group (FSG). The remaining 83 children with low caries risk received no fissure sealants and constituted a reference group (RG). Both groups were followed for 2 years. From 15 children of both groups, unstimulated whole saliva was collected 1 month after sealant placement in order to determine fluoride levels. In another 20 children, a split-mouth study design was utilized to compare the colonization of mutans streptococci adjacent to and on F-containing sealants and conventional controls. The sealants were placed by dental hygienists according to the manufacturers' instructions. RESULTS: A total of 431 fissure sealants were placed at baseline. Complete retention was found in 76.6% during the study period while 22.0% were partially lost. Six sealants (1.4%) were completely lost. The enamel caries incidence was 45% lower (P < 0.0