Longitudinal investigation of bacteriology of human fissure decay: epidemiological studies in molars shortly after eruption

Abstract

In the present investigation, the proportions of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, Streptococcus sanguis, veillonellae, and an unidentified actinomyces-like organism in dental plaque on occlusal fissures of first mandibular molars were monitored at 6-month intervals over a 3-year period in 368 children who were initially in grades 1 or 2. Teeth destined to become decayed exhibited a significant increase in the proportions of S. mutans from 6 to 24 months before the diagnosis of dental decay. Lactobacilli were sporadically detected but when present were associated with dental decay. Children whose teeth exhibited the greatest number of decayed surfaces had, at all time periods, significantly higher proportions of S. mutans than did children who were caries free. Many teeth had high proportions of S. mutans at their entry into the study. About 10% of the monitored teeth erupted during the period of observation, and in these teeth both S. mutans and lactobacilli could be significantly associated with decay. In these newly erupted teeth S. mutans outnumbered lactobacilli by ca. 20 to 1. S. sanguis, veillonellae, and the unidentified actinomyces-like organism could not be associated with the development of decay. These findings strongly implicate S. mutans and possibly lactobacilli as dental pathogens and suggest that if decay is to be controlled by strategies based upon a S. mutans infection, then the various tactics used probably will have to be performed on primary teeth, as these teeth are the most likely sources of infection for the permanent teeth.

Associations of microbiological factors and plaque index with caries prevalence and water fluoridation status

“…The current study supports the view shared by others (1,2,8,38,42,43,53,63) that caries activity is positively associated with the numbers of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva and dental plaque. The importance of mutans streptococci in the etiology of human dental decay has been strengthened by the findings that mutans streptococci numbers increase at dental sites destined to become cariogenic, whether they are at fissure sites (11, 39, 43) or at approximal sites (2,8).…”

“…The importance of Streptoeoeeus mutatis in the initiation of dental decay has been studied extensively (42), Since mutans streptococci and lactobacilli have been itnplicated directly in the initiation and progression of dental caries, these organistns have been associated with caries risk assessment in a number of studies (22,25,37,42,54), The associations of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli to the prevalence of dental caries have been studied extensively throughout the world (I, 3,4,7,13,14,30,31,33,34,53,56,63) but relatively few studies have addressed the problem in North America (8,11,26,32,43,59) and none has addressed the issue of water fluoridation.…”

Two functionally different glucose phosphotransferase transport systems in Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus

“…Among the acidogenic bacteria with a potential to induce dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is considered as the most efficient (16,21) and is generally found in high proportions in the dental plaque of subjects who develop lesions (9,12,17,18). The growth of S. tnutans in dental plaque is promoted by carbohydrates (16) which represent the only source of usable energy for this bacterial species.…”

Genetic transformation of Veillonella parvula

“…Veillonellae were generally regarded as commensal bacteria of the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract of humans; however, numerous molecular epidemiological studies have found veillonellae to be associated with dental caries (Loesche et al, 1984;Marchant et al, 2001;Becker et al, 2002;Rozkiewicz et al, 2006;Aas et al, 2008;Al-Ahmad et al, 2010;Kanasi et al, 2010;Lima et al, 2010;Ling et al, 2010), as well as the initiation of periodontitis (Kamma et al, 1995;Tanner et al, 1996;Socransky et al, 1998), both of which are polymicrobial diseases of the oral cavity. Some species of Veillonella can also cause monomicrobial infections of the joint (Marchandin et al, 2001) or life-threatening bacteremia in immunocompromised patients (Strach et al, 2006).…”