Changes in Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in plaque in relation to the initiation of dental caries in negro children

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Abstract

Over a period of 18 months, a study was made of dental plaques and caries on three selected tooth surfaces in 12 Negro children, ages 7–9. Although the mean number of Streptococcus mutans increased with time on each of the three surfaces, it remained much higher in the pits and fissures than on the buccal and approximal surfaces. The initiation of caries tended to be preceded by elevated numbers of both Strep. mutans and lactobacilli. However, the lactobacilli became a sizeable proportion of the plaque microbiota only after the appearance of caries. Caries frequently occurred in the absence of lactobacilli, but not in the absence of Strep. mutans.

Résumé

Sur une période de 18 mois, on a fait une étude des plaques dentaires et des caries sur trois surfaces sélectionnées, chez 12 enfants noirs âgés de 7–9 ans. Quoique la moyenne du nombre des Strep. mutans augmenta avec le temps sur chaque de ces trois surfaces, elle resta plus élevée dans les cavités et les fissures que sur les surfaces buccales et proximales. Le commencement des caries tendait d'être précédé par des nombres élevés de Strep. mutans et de lactobacilles. Cependant, les lactobacilles devinrent une proportion large dans la microbiose de la plaque seulement après l'apparition des caries. Les caries survinrent fréquemment dans l'absence des lactobacilles, mais pas dans l'absence des Strep. mutans.

Zusammenfassung

Eine Untersuchung von Zahnplaque und Karies wurde an drei ausgewählten Zahnflächen von 12 Negerkindern im Alter von 7–9 Jahren durchgef ührt. Obwohl die mittlere Anzahl von Streptococcus mutans mit der Zeit auf jeder der 3 Flächen anstieg, blieb sie in den Grübchen und Fissuren grösser als auf den bukkalen und Approximalflächen. Es schien, dass dem Beginn der Karies eine erhöhte Zahl sowohl von Strep. mutans wie Lactobacilli voranging. Allerdings entwickelten sich die Lactobacilli zu einer beträchtlichen Ausbreitung der Plaquemikroflora nur nach Auftreten von Karies. Karies kam häufig ohne Vorhandensein von Lactobacilli vor, aber niemals ohne Strep. mutans.

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Present address: School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Nihon University, Matsudo, Japan.

Present address: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto 2, Canada.

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