Bacterial plaque and enamel caries.
A series of five experiments were done to investigate the relationship between bacterial plaque and enamel caries: 1) Topographic examination of the distribution of plaque and initial enamel caies demonstrated a close relationship between these two. 2) By using a method of caries-like lesion production in vitro, it was shown that plaques collected from caries-active, caries-free and periodontal diseased persons could produce caries-like lesions, but the lesions produced by periodontal plaque were shallower than others. 3) In testing the cariogenicity of different phases of plaque, it was found that the liquid phase is the active phase in the carious process. 4) Examination of the proteolytic action of plaque fluid showed no reaction between plaque fluid and proteinous substances in enamel. This result does not support Gottleib's proteolysis theory, especially as it applies to enamel cares. 5) An in vitro model of multibacterial artificial plaque was established. Caries-like lesions were produced in this model, and the structure of the plaque was found to be very similar to that produced naturally.
Yue
S
S
College of Stomatology, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu.
D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D002118:Calcium