Evaluation of the Proportion of Cariogenic Bacteria Associated with Dental Caries

Abstract

Background: Public oral health surveys have shown that the prevalence of dental caries in adults is increasing worldwide, resulting in increased workload and costs of dental and other clinical oral health services. Total streptococci are broadly grouped into mutans streptococci and three other species. They constitute a majority of bacteria found in the mouth. Of the total streptococci, the group of bacteria that primarily causes dental caries is mutans streptococci, which consists of seven species. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the mutans streptococcus most strongly associated with dental caries. To date, no simple culture assay (kit) has been developed for detecting S. mutans using plaque samples for caries risk assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between S. mutans and dental caries in adults based on the number and proportion of cariogenic bacteria in toothbrush plaque samples by culture methods to obtain basic data to develop clinical and chairside culture assay for caries risk assessment.

The Antibacterial and Remineralization Effect of Silver-Containing Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Sealing and Er-YAG Laser on Dentinal Tubules Treated in a Streptococcus mutans Cultivated Environment

“…In contrast, dietary food residues, bacteria and cell debris accumulate on the tooth surface through dextran mediation, gradually causing the formation of dental plaque [9,10]. Biofilms can be resistant to oral cleaning, deteriorate enamel demineralization, damage the tooth structure, cause caries [11], and ultimately, result in the exposure of dentinal tubules and dentin hypersensitivity. The diverse bacteria continue to grow inside dentinal tubules, and pulp cavities may lead to further infection and other types of oral diseases.…”