The influence of certain added water-borne trace elements on the percentage bacterial composition of tooth fissure plaque from conventional Sprague-Dawley rats

Effect of Sucrose Containing Iron (II) on Dental Biofilm and Enamel Demineralization in situ

Since the effect of iron (Fe) on the cariogenicity of sucrose in humans is unexplored, this study assessed in situ the effect of Fe co-crystallized with sucrose (Fe-sucrose) topically applied in vitro on the acidogenicity, biochemical and microbiological composition of the dental biofilm formed in vivo and on the demineralization of the enamel. During two phases of 14 days each, 16 volunteers wore palatal appliances containing blocks of human enamel, which were submitted to four groups of separate treatments: (1) water; (2) 20% sucrose; (3) 20% (w/v) sucrose plus 18 microg Fe/ml, and (4) 20% (w/v) sucrose plus 70 microg Fe/ml. The solutions were dripped onto the blocks 8 times per day. The biofilms formed on the blocks were analyzed with respect to acidogenicity, biochemical and microbiological composition. Mineral loss was determined on enamel by surface and cross-sectional microhardness. Lower demineralization was found in the blocks subjected to Fe-sucrose (70 microg Fe/ml) than in those treated with sucrose (p < 0.05). This concentration of Fe also reduced significantly the populations of mutans streptococci in the biofilm formed on the blocks. In conclusion, our data suggest that Fe may reduce in situ the cariogenic potential of sucrose and the effect seems to be related to the reduction in the populations of mutans streptococci in the dental biofilm formed.

Elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions in cats

OBJECTIVE

To determine elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions (ORL) in cats.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Normal teeth from 22 cadaver cats and ORLaffected teeth from 21 cats admitted to the veterinary hospital for dental treatment.

PROCEDURE

An electron microprobe was used to analyze weight percentages of calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and iron in enamel, dentin, and cementum.

RESULTS

Calcium and phosphorus were the most abundant elements. Fluorine, sodium, and magnesium combined were < 5% and sulfur, potassium, and iron combined were < 0.1% of total elemental composition. In enamel of normal teeth, a significant sex-by-jaw location interaction was seen in mean (+/- SD) phosphorus content, which was higher in mandibular teeth of females (1764+/-0.41%) but lower in mandibular teeth of males (16.71+/-0.83%). Mean iron content in dentin of normal teeth was significantly lower in mandibular teeth than maxillary teeth (0.014+/-0.005% vs 0.023+/-0.019%). Mean enamel sodium content was significantly higher (0.77+/-0.046% vs 0.74+/-0.025) and mean enamel iron content was significantly lower (0.017+/-0.008% vs 0.021+/-0.005%) in ORLaffected teeth, compared with normal teeth. In cementum, mean fluorine content was significantly lower (2.98%+/-0.27 vs 2.99+/-0.20%) and mean magnesium content was significantly lower (0.54+/-0.13% vs 0.60+/-0.13%) in ORL affected teeth, compared with normal teeth.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results of our study establish baseline mineral content of enamel, dentin, and cementum for normal teeth in cats. Minimal differences in mineral content of enamel and cementum of normal and ORL-affected teeth were detected.

Influence of lead on the cariostatic effect of fluoride co-crystallized with sucrose in desalivated rats

OBJECTIVE

Results from previous studies have shown that pre- and perinatal exposure to lead enhances susceptibility of rats to development of dental caries. A possible explanation for this phenomenon may be that lead complexes with fluoride and renders F insoluble and unable to exert its cariostatic effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thus, to explore this hypothesis, 48 desalivated Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a König-Höfer programmed feeder and received 17 meals of powdered sucrose daily, and water ad libitum as follows: group (1) plain sucrose and sterile distilled water (SDW); (2) sucrose containing 15 ppm F and SDW; (3) sucrose containing 15 ppm F and 10 ppm Pb water; (4) sucrose containing 15 ppm F and 25 ppm Pb water.

RESULTS

The highest smooth-surface, sulcal surface caries and severity scores were observed in group I. Animals that were exposed to fluoride showed reduced smooth-surface caries and severity scores. S. sobrinus counts did not differ among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Lead did not interfere with the protective effect of fluoride in the conditions of the present study.

Effects of copper, iron and fluoride co-crystallized with sugar on caries development and acid formation in deslivated rats

The purpose was to explore the effects of combinations of copper, iron and fluoride (Cu, Fe and F) incorporated in sucrose by co-crystallization on caries development in the deslivated rat model and to examine acid formation by bacteria in the rat mouth. Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 and desalivated when aged 26 days. Eight groups were placed in a König-Höfer programmed feeder and received 17 meals daily at hourly intervals, and essential nutrition (NCP No. 2) by gavage twice daily for 21 days. The groups received (1) plain sucrose, (2) F (8 parts/10(6)) co-crystallized with sucrose, (3) Fe (88 parts/10(6)) sucrose, (4) Cu (75 parts/10(6)) sucrose, (5) Cu + F sucrose, (6) Cu + L Fe sucrose, (7) F + Fe sucrose, and (8) Cu + Fe + F sucrose. At death the jaws were removed and sonicated in 0.9% saline solution for microbial assessment. In addition, organic acid assays were performed for each animal. Keyes smooth-surface and sulcal caries scores were lowest in the Cu + Fe + F sucrose group, but not statistically significantly different from those of the other Cu groups. The numbers of Strep. sobrinus found in the groups that received Cu, Cu + Fe, Cu + F, F + Fe and Cu + Fe + F sugar were lower than in the control group. Lactic acid was found in lower concentrations in Fe, Cu, Cu + F, Cu + Fe and F + Fe groups than in the other groups. It appears that combinations of Cu; Fe and F co-crystallized with sugar may have an additive effect in reducing the cariogenic potential of sugar by affecting lactic acid formation and reducing bacterial colonization.

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

Plaque indices, numbers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable flora in plaque and saliva were assessed as part of a large-scale cross-sectional study designed to determine the factors that are associated with high caries activity in children. Subjects, 12 to 15 years old, residing in areas where the water supplies were either fluoridated (n = 140) or fluoride-deficient (n = 173) were studied. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli numbers in saliva were positively correlated with plaque index. Plaque indices were significantly higher in the high-caries group than in the zero-caries group of the fluoride-deficient community. In the fluoridated community, there was no difference in the plaque index between the zero- or high-caries groups. In each community, pooled dental plaque and saliva harbored fewer mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the zero-caries than the high-caries group. Greater numbers of mutans streptococci were found in the dental plaque and saliva of the zero-caries subjects in the fluoridated community than in the fluoride-deficient community, suggesting that a greater caries challenge can coexist with zero-caries status in the fluoridated community.

Comparative microbiological and immunological studies of subgingival dental plaque from man and baboons

Baboons may be useful as animal models for the study of human oral diseases and infections. They are closely related to man anatomically, physiologically, and phylogenetically. Plaque and gingival indices were relatively low in 18 baboons (Papio anubis). The mean scores ranged between 0.62 +/- 0.29 and 0.37 +/- 0.20, respectively. Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci comprised 27.0 +/- 32.4 and 3.1 +/- 7.5% of the total viable counts in the dental plaque samples. Black-pigmented Bacteroides formed about 1.9 +/- 5.9% of the bacterial population in the samples. Anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli were found in 73.2% of the samples and averaged 19.2 +/- 26.3% of the total recovered flora. Species of the oral Actinomyces and other Gram-positive rods found in humans were not isolated. The composition of the oral flora in baboons appeared to be significantly different from that of man. Isolates of F. nucleatum, L. buccalis, and B. intermedius from the two mammals were biochemically similar, but were distinguishable by analysis with antibody, both by precipitin lines and/or differences between homologous and heterologous titers.