Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva and the development of caries

Abstract

Abstract— Plaque samples from 10 different tooth surfaces of 10 schoolchildren with Varied Caries experience (DFS 10‐33) were collected five times during 2.5 years. The samples were examined with an immunofluorescent technique for identification and enemeration of Sreptococcus mutans scrotypes C/e/f and d/g. At each sampling occasion the children were scored for caries. A Stimulated saliva sample was also collected and the number of S. mutans per ml salva was determined. The salva level of S. Mutans was Shown to reflect the prevalence and proportion of this microorganism on theselected surfaces. Five surfaces carried S. nutans at each sampling. Four of these surfaces showed progressive caries. S. mutans infection was also found to precede the development of incipient caries on four surfaces. Eighty percent of the surfaces that stayed sound were only transiently carrriers of S. mutans in mainly very low numbers. Serotype c/e/f dominated in prevalence and proportion on the surfaces with a history of caries during the study.

The colony number of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in saliva of dental caries and free caries children

“…Number of S. mutans in oral cavity closely related with the caries severity and the prediction of caries risk in the future. 18,19 S. mutans virulence in dental caries depends on the host, the quality and the duration of bacterial adhesion in the plaque. S. mutans adhesion could be accelerated by purified salivary agglutinin which interacts with agglutinin receptor (high-molecular-weight surface protein) and presence of S. sanguis in oral cavity.…”

Estudo da freqüência de cárie e fatores associados no diabetes mellitus tipo 1

“…A placa bacteriana desempenha papel essencial no desenvolvimento da cárie e certos agentes estão mais freqüentemente envolvidos. Estudos em jovens não-diabéticos mostraram que aqueles com níveis baixos de estreptococos mutans e lactobacilos apresentavam menor número de cáries (26)(27)(28)(29)(30). No entanto, nos jovens diabéticos, esta relação não é clara (19,20,31), e a comparação da quantificação destas bactérias entre portadores ou não da doença também não é conclusiva (12)(13)(14)(15).…”

Effect of plaque accumulation and salivary factors on enamel demineralization and plaque composition in situ

“…Salivary flow rate, buffer capacity and mutans streptococci counts were significantly related to caries occurrence in some studies 9,19 , and the evaluation of these factors has been proposed as a tool for caries risk assessment; but the associations with caries are normally weak. Also, mutans streptococci counts in plaque are considered to be indicative of caries activity 10 , although an inconsistent relationship between numbers of mutans streptococci in plaque and caries state of enamel beneath it has been found in some studies 21 .…”