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Infect Immun. 1975 June; 11(6): 1252-1260
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Association of Streptococcus mutans with Human Dental Decay

W. J. Loesche, J. Rowan, L. H. Straffon and P. J. Loos

1 Department of Oral Biology and Pedodontics, University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

ABSTRACT

The association of Streptococcus mutans with human dental decay was investigated by using several types of samples: (i) paraffin-stimulated saliva samples taken from children with from 0 to 15 decayed teeth; (ii) pooled occlusal and approximal plaque taken from children with no decayed or filled teeth, or from children with rampant caries of 10 or more teeth; (iii) plaque removed from single occlusal fissures that were either carious or noncarious. The results showed a significant association between plaque levels of S. mutans and caries. The strongest association, P < 0.0001, was found when plaque was removed from single occlusal fissures. Seventy-one percent of the carious fissures had S. mutans accounting for more than 10% of the viable flora, whereas 70% of the fissures that were caries free had no detectable S. mutans. Sixty-five percent of the pooled plaque samples from the children with rampant caries had S. mutans accounting for more than 10% of the viable flora, whereas 40% of the pooled samples from children that were caries free had no detectable S. mutans. Saliva samples tended to have low levels of S. mutans and were equivocal in demonstrating a relationship between S. mutans and caries.

Infect Immun. 1975 June; 11(6): 1252-1260
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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