title: Evaluation of a simplified method for site-specific determination of mutans streptococci levels.
abstract: To determine the oral mutants streptococcal "load" of an individual, saliva samples reflecting the number of colonized tooth surfaces, are often applied. Sometimes a plaque sample from a specific site would be an advantage, for example in connection with local antimicrobial treatments. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate a chairside method for determination of mutans streptococci interproximally. One hundred subjects participated. Four approximal tooth surfaces of each individual were sampled using toothpicks. The toothpicks were then let to contaminate a pad on a specially designed plastic strip and, for comparison, a MSB-agar plate. The strips were incubated in the standard "Strip mutans" broth. The yield of colony forming units on the strip surface corresponded significantly with that on agar plates. Being a simple chair-side method for the evaluation of the site-specific load of mutans streptococci, it is suggested that the method will be used in various investigations to clarify its potential in different clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bratthall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoszek
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000379:methods; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014070:Tooth / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011934:Reagent Strips