Dental caries is a preventable infectious disease.
Dental caries is the most common infectious disease affecting humans. The principal causative agents are a group of streptococcal species collectively referred to as the mutans streptococci of which Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the most important agents of human caries. This review outlines what is currently known about these ubiquitous pathogens and discusses novel methods for elimination of these bacteria from dental plaque.
Balakrishnan
M
M
Department of Oral Sciences and Orthodontics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Simmonds
R S
RS
Tagg
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000898:Antibiosis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D013549:Sweetening Agents