title: The level of cariogenic micro-organisms in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: Sixteen patients with caries-inactive sjögren's syndrome with low parotid salivary flow rates (< 0.25 mL/min) and 18 caries-inactive control subjects with higher salivary flow rates were compared. Mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) counts were measured by means of Dentocult SM strip mutans and LB assays. The group with Sjögren's syndrome displayed higher counts of MS (P = 0.014) and LB (p = 0.003) when compared with controls. The results of this study indicate that patients with caries-inactive Sjögren's syndrome and low salivary flow may have higher colonization of cariogenic micro-organisms than healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kolavic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: al-Hashimi
authors.forename: I Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification