Supragingival plaque microbial analysis in reflection to caries experience

• Main Authors: Mannaa Alaa, Carlén Anette, Campus Guglielmo, Lingström Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2013-01-01
• Series: BMC Oral Health
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6831/13/5

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dental caries develops as a result of the metabolism of carbohydrates by cariogenic bacteria present in a complex biofilm. The present study aimed to examine if bacteria in pooled supragingival plaque samples quantified using a “checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization” based panel of caries-related bacteria, could reflect the caries experience in a manner similar to saliva samples analysed using a chair-side method in a previous investigation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 86 mothers and their children aged 4–6 years and 12–16 years old participated. Caries experience (DMFT/dmft; Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth for permanent and primary teeth) was registered clinically and radiographically. Caries was recorded at the D₃ level (caries into dentine). The D/d component was divided into three categories. A pooled supragingival plaque sample per participant was obtained from posterior approximal sites. Analyses of 15 bacterial species were performed using the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridisation technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant relationships were found between the bacterial scores and DMFT/dmft nor D/d groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Unlike the saliva samples and the chair-side method, interproximal pooled plaque samples analysed using the “checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique” did not reveal any significant relations between the bacterial counts and the caries experience.</p>