In vitro Caries-like Lesion Production by Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus Using Sucrose and Starch

Abstract

We investigated the formation of caries-like lesions on root and enamel sections by S. mutans and A. viscosus when grown in four different carbohydrate substrates. The substrates were: sucrose, starch + α-amylase, and a combination of starch and sucrose with and without a-amylase. Twenty-four sections with exposed windows on both the root and enamel surfaces were exposed to the individual bacterial species in each of the four substrates for three weeks. At three weeks, the sections were removed and lesion depths measured. When grown in sucrose alone, S. mutans produced significantly deeper lesions in both root and enamel surfaces when compared with A. viscosus. However, S. mutans failed to produce lesions when grown in "limited" sucrose with starch added, whereas A. viscosus in this same substrate produced lesions in the enamel and root surfaces. A. viscosus also produced either similar or significantly deeper lesions in both root and enamel surfaces, when compared with S. mutans grown in the two substrates with amylase. Thus, under these in vitro conditions, it was demonstrated that A. viscosus could utilize starch, whereas utilization of starch by S. mutans was α-amylase-dependent.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bowden, G.H. ; Hardie, J.M. ; and Fillery, E.D. (1976): Antigens from Actinomyces Species and Their Value in Identification, J Dent Res 55 (Spec Iss A): 192-204.

Bowen, W.H. (1984): Impact on Research. In: Cariology Today , B. Guggenheim , Ed., Basel: Karger, pp. 49-55.

Carlos, J.P. (1984): Epidemiologic Trends in Caries: Impact on Adults and the Aged. In: Cariology Today , B. Guggenheim , Ed., Basel: Karger, pp. 24-32.

Darling, A.I. (1956): Studies of the Early Lesion of Enamel Caries With Transmitted Light, Polarized Light, and Microradiography, Br Dent J 101 :298-297 and 329-341.

Featherstone, J.D.B. and Rodgers, B.E. (1981): Effect of Acetic, Lactic and Other Organic Acids on the Formation of Artificial Carious Lesions, Caries Res 15:377-385.

Geddes, D.A.M. ; Weetman, D.A. ; and Featherstone, J.D.B. (1984): Preferential Loss of Acetic Acid from Plaque Fermentation in the Presence of Enamel, Caries Res 18:430-433.

Gustafsson, B.E. ; Quensel, C.E. ; Lanke, L.S. ; Lund-Qvist, C. ; Grahnen, H. ; Bonow, B.E. ; and Krasse, B. (1954): The Vipeholm Dental Caries Study: The Effect of Different Levels of Carbohydrate Intake on Caries Activity in 436 Individuals Observed for Five Years, Acta Odontol Scand 11:232-364.

Harris, R. (1967): The Biology of the Children of Hopewood House, Bowral, N.S.W. VI. The Pattern of Dental Caries Experience, Aust Dent J 12:220-227.

Hazen, S.P. ; Chilton, N.W. ; and Mumma, R.D., Jr. (1973): The Problem of Root Caries. I. Literature Review and Clinical Description, J Am Dent Assoc 86:137-144.

10.

Jordan, H.V. and Hammond, B.F. (1972): Filamentous Bacteria Isolated From Human Root Surface Caries, Arch Oral Biol 17:1333-1342.

11.

Kleinberg, I. (1970): Formation and Accumulation of Acid on the Tooth Surface, J Dent Res 49:1300-1317.

12.

Lohse, W.G. ; Carter, H.G. ; and Brunelle, J.A. (1977): The Prevalence of Root Surface Caries in a Military Population, Milit Med 142:700-703.

13.

Mormann, J.E. and Muhlemann, H.R. (1981): Oral Starch Degradation and Its Influence on Acid Production in Human Dental Plaque, Caries Res 15:166-175.

14.

Newbrun, E. (1983): Cariology, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins , pp. 91-93.

15.

Schamschula, R.G. ; Barmes, D.E. ; Keyes, P.H. ; and Gul-Binat, W. (1974): Prevalence and Interrelationships of Root Surface Caries in Lufa, Papua New Guinea, Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2:295-304.

16.

Scheinin, A. ; Makinen, K.K. ; and Ylitalo, K. (1976): Turku Sugar Studies. I. An Intermediate Report on the Effect of Sucrose, Fructose and Xylitol Diets on the Caries Incidence in Man , Acta Odontol Scand 34:179-216.

17.

Sreebny, L.M. (1982): Sugar Availability, Sugar Consumption and Dental Caries, Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 10:1-7.

18.

Sumney, D.L. and Jordan, H.V. (1974): Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Human Root Surface Carious Lesions, J Dent Res 53:343-351.

19.

Syed, S.A. ; Loesche, W.J. ; Pape, H.L., Jr. ; and Grenier, E. (1975): Predominant Cultivable Flora Isolated From Human Root Surface Caries Plaque, Infect Immun 11:727-731.

20.

Wefel, J.S. ; Clarkson, B.H. ; and Heilman, J.R. (1985): Natural Root Caries: A Histologic and Microradiographic Evaluation, J Oral Pathol 14:615-623.