Microorganisms in dental plaque live in constant association with saliva. The role of saliva in the adherence of bacteria to the teeth and the antibacterial properties of saliva have been well investigated; less interest has been shown in the possible role of saliva as a substrate for oral microorganisms. In this study it was shown that saliva can serve as a growth medium for oral Streptococcus spp. and Actionomyces viscosus. The cell production of these organisms on saliva was carbohydrate limited. The doubling times for growth on glucose-supplemented saliva (4 to 5 mmol/liter) ranged from 1.6 to 4.0 h. The availability of carbohydrate sources for the oral microflora is discussed in relation to microbial growth in the oral cavity.

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 74 patients who required immediate dentures were randomly treated with immediate overdentures on two lower canines or with immediate complete dentures. Mandibular bone reduction was measured by use of oblique lateral cephalometric radiographs made at baseline and the results compared with those of one year and two years after denture treatment. Analysis of the data showed that the average bone reduction in the lower canine regions in the first year was 0.9 mm in the immediate-overdenture group and 1.8 mm in the immediate complete-denture group. In the posterior parts of the mandible, the bone reductions were, respectively, 0.7 mm and 1.9 mm. The differences were statistically significant in all measured regions. During the second year, no significant differences in bone reduction were found. The sums of differences in the first two years were significant in all regions except the molar region, preserving the initial difference. Retention of roots of canines beneath a mandibular denture in immediate denture patients, even when they were in poor condition, reduced the collapse of the alveolar processes in all regions of the mandible.

The role of saliva in supporting the growth of dental plaque has scarcely been investigated. We have studied the growth and recovery of micro-organisms from dental plaque samples on saliva-agar plates, prepared from filter-sterilized wax-stimulated whole saliva. Under optimal conditions, the mean recovery of plaque samples on saliva agar was about 50% (range, 22-77) of the recovery on blood agar. Addition of 2.5 mmol/L dithiothreitol (DTT) strongly facilitated filter-sterilization of saliva, but DTT concentrations higher than 1 mmol/L reduced the recovery of plaque micro-organisms on saliva agar. Catalase (100 U/ml) offered protection against the inhibitory effect of DTT. Addition of glucose (1-5 mmol/L) increased only slightly the recovery of plaque micro-organisms on saliva agar. When supragingival plaque was plated on saliva- and blood-agar plates, the composition of the microflora isolated from saliva agar strongly resembled that isolated from blood agar. The predominant species--i.e., Streptococcus and Actinomyces--all grew on saliva agar though usually in numbers somewhat lower than those on blood agar. In addition, most species normally found only in low proportions in supragingival dental plaque were also found to grow on saliva agar. Collectively, the results lead to the conclusion that the supragingival microflora can utilize saliva as a complete source of nutrients.

Please be advised that this information was generated on 2018-05-12 and may be subject to change.T reatm en t r e su lts w ith im m ed iate ov erd en tu res: An ev a lu a tio n o f 4.5 y ea rs

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