Effect of Cervitec (R) on mutans streptococci in plaque and on caries formation on occlusal fissures of erupting permanent molars

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cervitec(R) on the abundance of mutans streptococci (MS) in occlusal dental plaque and on 2-year caries increment of partly erupting first permanent molars. Sixteen healthy schoolchildren aged 6-8 years, with at least 2 sound contralateral partly erupted permanent molars, received diet counselling and daily parental supervised toothbrushing with a fluoride dentifrice. Stimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline and after 1 year to evaluate MS levels. In a split-mouth design, Cervitec varnish was applied to one of the teeth at baseline and after 3 and 6 months, while the other tooth in the same jaw was a control. At the 9-month follow-up the teeth were in occlusal contact. At this time, varnish was not applied. At 3 and 6 months after the first application of varnish a significant suppression of MS was observed in plaque. Caries investigations, performed at baseline and every 3 months during the 2 years after the start of the study, showed that all the teeth treated with the varnish were free of caries after 2 years, whereas 8/16 control teeth developed incipient caries. In conclusion, our results suggest that treatment with Cervitec reduces MS in plaque on erupting permanent molars and can lead to a significant decrease in caries incidence. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Association of free amino acids with caries experience and mutans streptococci levels in whole saliva of children with early childhood caries

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the free amino acid content in whole saliva of children with (CE) and without early childhood caries (CF) (ECC), correlating these findings with caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva.Design: Seventy-eight healthy children, both genders, 6-71 months age, were selected to participate in the study. Following examination for dmft scores calculation, unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all 78 participants, stored at -80 degrees C, and used for amino acid analysis, on a Biochem 20 plus amino acid analyzer. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 52 children, transported, diluted and plated on MSB agar medium for detection of MS in cfu/mL.Results: Forty different free amino acids were identified in whole saliva, with great variation in their concentration. A statistically significant relation was found between caries experience and the presence of free proline and glycine. While proline (p = 0.0182) was more frequently absent in the CF group, the absence of glycine (p = 0.0397) was more often observed in the CE group. In the presence of higher levels of MS, free glycine reduced the risk of experiencing dental caries (p = 0.0419). Conversely, the presence of proline was found to increase the risk of experiencing the disease (p = 0.0492).Conclusions: The presence of free proline and absence of free glycine in children with ECC, highly contaminated with MS, increased the chances of experiencing dental caries in the present population. Further studies are needed to better understand this phenomenon. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Viability of Streptococcus mutans on transparent and opaque toothbrushes.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability of the microorganism Streptococcus mutans on toothbrushes made of opaque and transparent materials. METHODS: Twenty-eight toothbrushes (14 opaque and 14 transparent) were inoculated in tubes with brain heart infusion (BHI) broth of a standard strain of S. mutans and incubated in candle jars at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. Both the opaque and transparent toothbrushes were removed at T = 0 h (control); T = 0.5 h; T = 1 h; T = 2 h; T = 4 h; T = 8 h; and T = 24 h. Individual toothbrushes were subjected to agitation in a saline solution and samples of the solution were diluted and inoculated in Bacitracin Sucrose Agar--SB-20. RESULTS: After half an hour (T2) there was a significant decrease in the number of microorganisms on the transparent and opaque toothbrushes, respectively 6.0 x 10(5) and 9.4 x 10(5), when compared to the control. After the T3 = 1 hour, T4 = 2 hours, T5 = 4 h, the number of microorganisms decreased from 4.1 x 10(5); 2.1 x 10(5); 1.4 x 10(5); and 9.2 x 10(5); 5.7 x 10(5); 1.2 x 10(5) to zero (0.0) in T6 = 8 h, respectively on the transparent and opaque toothbrushes. The reduction in viable microorganisms was more obvious with the transparent toothbrushes, although the number of viable microorganisms was not significantly different for the two types of toothbrushes at the end of the experiment, T5 = 1.4 x 10(5) (transparent) and T5 = 1.2 x 10(5) (opaque). CONCLUSIONS: With both opaque and transparent toothbrushes, the number of microorganisms decreased with time. A reduction in the number of microorganisms on the transparent toothbrushes was observed following inoculation and incubation. This suggests the transparent toothbrushes inhibit the viability of the S. mutans.

Correlation among mutans streptococci counts, dental caries, and IgA to Streptococcus mutans in saliva

Two-hundred and forty individuals were studied, divided into five groups as follows: caries-free children, children with caries, children with rampant caries, young adults with and without caries. Whole stimulated saliva was collected and all individuals were investigated for DMFT/dmft according to the WHO criteria and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Quantitative analysis of the total aerobic flora and mutans streptococci in saliva was performed. Also, the level of salivary anti-S. mutans IgA was determined by ELISA. Children with rampant caries showed the highest OHI-S value. The highest total counts of microorganisms were found in the group of children with caries. No statistically significant differences were observed for salivary flow, OHI-S and microorganism counts between the groups of young adults. No correlation between mutans streptococci counts and anti-Streptococcus mutans IgA levels was observed in the studied groups. A correlation between increased anti-Streptococcus mutans IgA levels and caries-free status was observed among young adults but not among children.