The Intra-oral Effect on Enamel Demineralization of Extracellular Matrix Material Synthesized from Sucrose by Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

The role of extracellular matrix material (EMM) synthesized from sucrose (S) by Streptococcus mutans IB-1600 in altering the demineralizing potential of artificial plaque was evaluated with an intra-oral enamel demineralization test (IEDT). The artificial plaque samples were prepared from cells cultivated in Todd-Hewitt broth (THB) supplemented with various S concentrations and by mixing THB-grown cells with increasing proportions of EMM (heat-killed THB + 2% S-cultivated cells). The samples were also evaluated for cell density (DNA content) and acidogenicity in vitro (pH-stat), as well as for in situ pH changes during a 45-minute intra-oral test following a 10% glucose rinse. An increase in the proportion of EMM relative to cell density was associated with an increase in enamel demineralization. This trend reversed when the ratio of cells to EMM was less than 1 :19. Experiments involving strains of S. mitis, S. sanguis, and S. salivarius suggested a similar effect of EMM. The intra-oral pH data suggest that the presence of EMM may enhance demineralization by altering diffusion properties of plaque.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brudevold, F. ; Attarzadeh, F. ; Tehrani, A. ; Van Houte, J. ; and Russo, J. (1984): Development of a New Intraoral Demineralization Test, Caries Res 18:421-429.

Brudevold, F. ; Tehrani, A. ; and Bakhos, Y. (1982): Intra-oral Mineralization of Abraded Dental Enamel , J Dent Res 61 :456-459.

Burton, K. (1956): A Study of the Conditions and Mechanisms of the Diphenylamine Reaction for the Colorimetric Extinction of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Biochem J 62:315-323.

Critchley, P. ; Wood, J.M. ; Saxton, C.A. ; and Leach, S.A. (1967): Polymerization of Dietary Sugars by Dental Plaque , Caries Res 1:112-129.

Dibdin, G.H. ; Wilson, C.M. ; and Shellis, R.P. (1983): Effect of Packing Density and Polysaccharide to Protein Ratio of Plaque Samples Cultured in vitro Upon Their Permeability , Caries Res 17:52-58.

Gibbons, R.J. and Banghart, S. (1967): Synthesis of Extracellular Dextran by Cariogenic Bacteria and its Presence in Human Dental Plaque, Arch Oral Biol 12:11-24.

Goulet, D. and Brudevold, F. (1984): Salivary Glucose Clearance After Rinsing with Solutions of Different Concentrations of Glucose, Caries Res 18:481-487.

Hamada, S. and Slade, H.D. (1980): Biology, Immunology and Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans, Microbiol Rev 44 :331-384.

Hamada, S. and Torii, M. (1978): Effect of Sucrose in Culture Media on the Location of Glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans and Cell Adherence to Glass Surfaces, Infect Immun 20 :592-599.

10.

Hamilton, I.R. (1976): Intracellular Polysaccharide Synthesis by Cariogenic Microorganisms. In: Microbial Aspects of Dental Caries, H.M. Stiles , W.J. Loesche , and T.C. O'Brien , Eds., Sp. Supp., Microbiology Abstracts, Vol. III: 683-701.

11.

Hare, M.D. ; Svenson, S. ; and Walker, G.J. (1978): Characterization of the Extracellular, Water-Insoluble α-D-Glucans of Oral Streptococci by Methylation Analysis, and by Enzymatic Synthesis and Degradation, Carbohydr Res 66:245-264.

12.

Hojo, S. ; Higuchi, M. ; and Araya, S. (1976): Glucan Inhibition of Diffusion in Plaque, J Dent Res 55: 169.

13.

Lenz, H. and Mühlemann, H.R. (1963): In vitro and in vivo Effects of Saliva on Etched or Mechanically Marked Enamel After Certain Periods of Time, Helv Odont Acta 7:30-33.

14.

McNee, S.G. ; Geddes, D.A.M. ; Weetman, D.A. ; Sweeney, D. ; and Beeley, J.A. (1982): Effect of Extracellular Polysaccharides on Diffusion of NaF and [14C]-Sucrose in Human Dental Plaque and in Sediments of the Bacterium Streptococcus sanguis 804 (NCTC 10904), Arch Oral Biol 27:981-986.

15.

Rolla, G. ; Oppermann, R.V. ; Bowen, W.H. ; Ciardi, J.E. ; and Knox, K.W. (1980): High Amounts of Lipoteichoic Acid in Sucrose-induced Plaque in vivo, Caries Res 14:235-238.

16.

Tatevossian, A. (1979): Diffusion of Radio-tracers in Human Dental Plaque , Caries Res 13:154-162.

17.

Taubman, M.A. ; Smith, D.J. ; Ebersole, J.L. ; and Hill-Man, J.D. (1983): Protective Aspects of Immune Response to Glucosyltransferase, in Relation to Dental Caries. In: Glucosyltransferases, Glucans, Sucrose and Dental Caries, R.J. Doyle and J.E. Ciardi, Eds., Sp. Supp., Chemical Senses, pp. 249-258.

18.

Van Houte, J. (1980): Bacterial Specificity in the Etiology of Dental Caries, Int Dent J 30:305-326.

19.

Walker, G.J. ; Brown, R.A. ; and Taylor, C. (1984): Activity of Streptococcus mutans a-D-Glucosyltransferases Released Under Various Growth Conditions, J Dent Res 63:397-400.

20.

Winkler, K.C. and Backer Dirks, O. (1958): The Mechanism of the Dental Plaque, Int Dent J 8:561-585.

21.

Zero, D.T. ; Van Houte, J. ; and Russo, J. (1986): Enamel Demineralization by Acid Produced from Endogenous Substrate in Oral Streptococci, Arch Oral Biol 31:229-234.