Studies of the Cause and Nature of Dental Caries

Dental Caries

“…The reports by Kligler in 1915 (62, 63) that plaques on carious surfaces had higher proportions of lactobacilli than plaques on caries-free surfaces prompted investigators to study the relationship of lactobacilli with this disease. In comparisons of groups, it was found that the numbers of lactobacilli in saliva or on the tooth surface statistically correlated with caries activity but this positive relationship was often absent in individual subjects (64)(65)(66)(67). The presence of lactobacilli in the mouth was also reported to precede clinically detectable carious lesions (66), and their numbers in saliva were positively influenced by the quantity of dietary carbohydrate ingested (68).…”

“…In comparisons of groups, it was found that the numbers of lactobacilli in saliva or on the tooth surface statistically correlated with caries activity but this positive relationship was often absent in individual subjects (64)(65)(66)(67). The presence of lactobacilli in the mouth was also reported to precede clinically detectable carious lesions (66), and their numbers in saliva were positively influenced by the quantity of dietary carbohydrate ingested (68). However, more recent studies have shown that the bacterial populations of saliva are not representa tive of those on the tooth surface (69,70), and that lactobacilli constitute only a very small fraction of the plaque fl ora (71)(72)(73)(74).…”

Chemically induced in vitro lesions in dental enamel

“…It can, however, be assumed that the liquid in the chemical systems described by MiJHLEMANN (1960) above has not been allowed to become saturated with respect to fluorapatite, the resulting lesions then being a surface etching. It seems in this context interesting that in some experiments it has been necessary to add calcium phosphates to the demineralizing agent for preservation of surface enamel and development of a subsurface lesion (ENRIGHT, FRIESELL & TRESCHER 1932, GooLiDGE, BESIC & JACOBS 1955. In these two papers ionic activities were unfortunately not given, but a rough estimation shows that the liquid phase was close to saturation.…”

The Occurrence of Lactobacilli and Other Acidogenic Organisms in the Salivas of Selected Caries-Free Children

“…The former found lactobacilli in only 12 per cent of 65 cases selected apparently without sufficient dental information; the latter in their few examinations depended almost entirely on extracted teeth, and assumed caries activity by the presence of cavities. However, where carefully controlled comparisons of cultural and clinical findings have been made as in the present paper, the Michigan group (4-1), Jay (24), Rosebury and Greenberg (25), Enright, Friesell and Trescher (26), and others, a correlation between the numbers of lactobacilli and the caries observed in the subjects may be demonstrated. Yet in any group, even as in the present selected caries-free children, cultures of the salivas will show certain individuals who are either consistently positive or negative for lactobacilli, some who are becoming free from lactobacilli, and others in whose mouths lactobacilli are beginning to appear.…”

“…From the data presented by Rodriguez (3), McIntosh, James and Lazarus-Barlow (23), Bunting et al. (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), Jay (24), Rosebury (25), Enright, Friesell and Trescher (26) and others, it is apparent that lactobacilli are generally present in the mouths of individuals with caries and are absent from those with no caries or arrested lesions.…”