Oral Microbiology

Abstract

The leading theme of this review, microbial ecology of the mouth, has been so fully developed in recent years that only oblique reference is possible to the problem of dental caries, which at present is the central concern of den tal research. Fortunately, however, several bibliographies, reviews and sym posia are available (5,26,82,108,116,120) which are reasonably up-to-date. The present survey is primarily concerned with the literature since Harri son's review of 1949 (39); even so, limitations of space make it impossible to report on all of the significant studies which have appeared. QUALITATIVE STUDIES OF THE ORAL FLORAFrom the University of Birmingham has come an intensive qualitativ e study by Morris (72 to 77) of most of the oral flora in seven carious and fou r caries immune subjects which contributes significantly to our knowledge o f oral ecology. The kinds of microorganisms identified from cultures of mouth rinses and gingival scrapings were as follows: alpha, beta, and gamma strepto cocci, enterococci, corynebacteria, actinomycetes, fusobacteria, gram-nega tive bacilli, lactobacilli, Hemophilus, Leptotrichia, Nocardia, Streptomyces, Veillonella, Neisseria, micrococci, and pneumococci. The viruses, protozoa, spirochetes and yeasts were not studied. Morris (77) found a considerable difference between the types of organisms observed by early workers in the oral cavity and those organisms found in healthy mouths today, apparently attributable to improved oral hygiene in recent years. From Morris' study the bacterial flora of the mouth appeared to consist in a greater degree of specialized oral parasites than had previously been believed.Several microorganisms have been reported for the first time as mem bers of the oral flora. Morton et aZ. (81) have detected pleuropneumonia-like organisms in the saliva of 46 persons out of 100 examined, while a subse quent study (80) of a smaller group gave an even higher incidence. These are the first reports of the organisms being present in high incidence in a region of the human body outside of the genito-urinary tract. Throat cultures yielded a lower percentage of pleuropneumonia-like organisms [Smith & Mor ton (114)] than mouth cultures, but as was the case for the mouth, the inci dence was higher in the throat than for the normal female [Randall et aZ. (91); Klieneberger-Nobel (56)] and male [Beveridge et aZ. (10)] genito-urinary tracts. Dienes & Madoff (22) were able to obtain abundant growth of pleuro pneumonia-like organisms from debris between the teeth and from material 1 The survey of literature pertaining to this review was completed in August, 1956. 183 Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 1957.11:183-198. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org Access provided by Northwestern University -Evanston Campus on 02/07/15. For personal use only.Quick links to online content Further ANNUAL REVIEWS

Transmission electron microscope study of bacterial morphotypes on the anterior dorsal surface of human tongues

“…The oral microbiology of humans has long been and continues to be the subject of many investigations. One indication of the magnitude of the work is seen in the fact that Hoffman's review (1957), covering the period from 1949 to 1956, listed 129 references. Studies have addressed a wide variety of factors related to oral microbiology.…”