This study was undertaken in order to correlate the immune status of persons with various types of immune dysfunctions with the incidence of dental caries. Preliminary data on caries experience and the microbial composition of plaque in these individuals are presented. The findings suggest that persons with immunoglobulin dysfunctions have a greater susceptibility to dental caries and have a greater frequency of harboring S mutans than do normal persons.
Fitzgerald, R.: Dental Caries Research in Gnotobiotic Animals , Caries Res2:139-146, 1968.
3.
Michalek, S.M. ; Mcghee, J.R. ; and Navia, J.M.: Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: A Sensitive Method for Evaluating Cariogenicity in Young Gnotobiotic Rats, Infect Immun12:69-75, 1975.
4.
Destoppelaar, J.D. ; Van Houte, J.; and Backer Dirks , J.: The Relationship Between Extracellular Polysaccharide-Producing Streptococci and Smooth Surface Caries in 13-Year-Old Children, Caries Res3 : 190-199, 1969.
5.
Englander, H.R. , and Jordan, H.V. : Relation Between Streptococcus mutans and Smooth Surface Caries in the Deciduous Dentition, J Dent Res51:1505, 1972.
6.
Littleton, N.W. ; Kakehashi, S.; and Fitzgerald , R.J.: Recovery of Specific "Caries-Inducing" Streptococci From Caries Lesions in the Teeth of Children , Arch Oral Biol15:461-463, 1970.
7.
Shklair, I.L.; Keene, H.J.; and Simonson, L.G.: Distribution and Frequency of Streptococcus mutans in Caries-Active Individuals , J Dent Res51 : 882, 1972.
8.
Bowen, W.H.: Defense Mechanisms in the Mouth and Their Possible Role in the Prevention of Dental Caries: A Review, J Oral Path3:266-278, 1974.
9.
Tausman, M.A., and Smith, D.J.: Effects of Local Immunization with Streptococcus mutans on Induction of Salivary Immunoglobulin A Antibody and Experimental Dental Caries in Rats , Infect Immun9:1079-1091, 1974 .
10.
Michalek, S.M. ; McGhee, J.R.; Mestecky , J.; Arnold, R.R.; and Bozzo, L.: Ingestion of Streptococcus mutans Induces Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Caries Immunity , Science192:1238-1240, 1976 .
11.
Arnold, R.R. ; Mestecky, J.; and McGhee , J.R.: Naturally-Occurring Secretory Immunoglobulin A Antibodies to Streptococcus mutans in Human Colostrum and Saliva, Infect Immun14:355-362, 1976.
12.
Podshadley, A.G., and Haley, J.V. : A Method for Evaluating Oral Hygiene Performance , Public Health Reports83 :259-264, 1968.
13.
Ramfjord, S.P. : Indices for Prevalence and Incidence of Periodontal Disease, J Periodont30:51-56, 1959.
14.
Schaefer, M.E. ; Rhodes, M.; Prince , S.; Michalek, S.M.; and McGhee , J.R. : Use of a Plastic Intraoral Device for Collection of Human Parotid Saliva, J Dent Res (in press).
15.
Mancini, G. ; Carbonara, A.O.; and Here-Mans , J.F.: Immunochemical Quantitation of Antigens by Single Radial Immunodiffusion, Immunochemistry2:235-240, 1965.
16.
Hardie, J.M. , and Bowden, G.H.: Cell Wall and Serological Studies on Streptococcus mutans, Caries Res8:1-10, 1974.
17.
Shklair, I.L. , and Keene, H.J.: A Biochemical Scheme for the Separation of the Five Varieties of Streptococcus mutans, Arch Oral Biol19:1079-1081, 1974.
18.
Fox, L.A. : Preventive Dentistry for the Handicapped Child , Pediat Clin N Amer20: 245-258, 1973.
19.
Ogra, P.L.; Cappola, P.R.; Macgillivary, M.H.; and Dzierba, J.L.: Mechanisms of Mucosal Immunity to Viral Infections in yA Immunoglobulin-Deficiency Syndromes, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med145:811-816, 1974.
20.
Brandtzaeg, P.; Fjellanger, I.; and Gjeruldsen , S.T.: Immunoglobulin M: Local Synthesis and Selective Secretion in Patients with Immunoglobulin A Deficiency, Science160:789-791, 1975.
21.
Lehner, T.; Cardwell, J.E.; and Clarry, E.D.: Immunoglobulins in Saliva and Serum in Dental Caries, Lancet1:1294-1297, 1967.
22.
Robertson, P.B. , and Cooper, M.D.: Oral Manifestations of IgA Deficiency , in Mestecky, J., and Lawton, A.R. (eds.) : The Immunoglobulin A System, Plenum Press, 1974, pp. 497-503.
23.
Zengo, A.N. ; Mandel, I.D.; Goldman , R.; and Khurana, H.J.: Salivary Studies in Human Caries Resistance , Arch Oral Biol16: 557-560, 1971.
24.
Loesche, W.J. ; Rowan, J.: STRAFFON, L.H.; and Loos, P.J.: Association of Streptococcus mutans with Human Dental Decay, Infect Immun11:1252-1260, 1975.
