The microflora of black stain on human primary teeth

Abstract

abstract— Black stain on human teeth is usually associated with a low caries frequency. In order to determine the predominant microflora of black stain a systematic qualitative and quantitative microbiologic investigation has been performed. Samples were obtained from 11 children, 3–5 years of age, who had black stain on at least 10 teeth. Various Gram‐positive rods comprised a surprisingly high percentage of the cultivable organisms. Catalase negative actinomycetes averaged 67%, catalase positive actinomycetes 15%, and Corynebacterium 8% of the viable flora. About one‐half of the catalase negative actinomycetes could not be classified satisfactorily with the data available. Most of the catalase positive actinomycetes were motile. Streptococci averaged only 5% of the flora, a finding which agress well with the low caries frequency. Neisseria averaged 4%, but had a somewhat variable occurrence in the samples. B. melaninogenicus averaged less than 1% of the flora. Yeast was present in one sample only. The data presented indicate that black stain has a characteristic and relatively stable microflora, dominated by various actinomycetes. The role of the actinomycetes in regard to the low caries frequency is unknown. Presumably, the actinomycetes are responsible for the formation of the color of the black stain.

Biofilms of black tooth stains: PCR analysis reveals presence of Streptococcus mutans

“…The presence of black extrinsic tooth stains has been associated with low occurrence of caries in patients with these stains when compared to patients presenting healthy tooth surfaces (6,11,12), but this finding could not be confirmed by all authors (13,14). Reasons for these results are not clear but it has been speculated that they are related to the specific oral microflora described in black stain-affected individuals (15).…”

Caries Experience of Black Stained Teeth Using ICDAS II

“…Although, relation between chromogenic bacteria and formation of metal sulfides are frequently presented in studies, no concrete evidence has been showed [8,10,19,25,27,29]. Many studies may be summarized that bacteria related to black stains may create a competitive environment for cariogenic bacteria and this special microflora might reduce caries experience of an individual [13,19,20]. Our findings in this study support that caries formation could be significantly lower in BS teeth.…”

“…Content of this black discolored plaque consist a ferric sulfide compound, which occurs as a combination of salivary iron and hydrogen sulfide produced by bacteria which reported to be Actinomyces naeslundii as a common sense [6,7,[11][12][13]. After formation of extrinsic black stained plaque, adhesion to the tooth surface occurs via multiple forces such as Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions [8,14].…”

Prevalence of black stain and dental caries in children attending a university pediatric dentistry clinic in Istanbul

“…Although its origin remains somehow obscure, an association with chromogenic bacteria such as Actinomyces and Prevotella melaninogenica has been reported in the literature (3,6,7,9,12).…”

“…The first study to characterize the structure and composition of black stain was made by Bibby (5) in 1931. This particular type of pigmentation has been considered to be a special form of dental plaque that differs from other types because it contains insoluble iron salt and a high content of copper, calcium and phosphate (6,8). The chemical composition of saliva in children with black stain is characteristic of subjects with low susceptibility to caries according to the lower glucose and higher calcium, phosphate content (6,9).…”