A study of oral health condition in individuals with no oral hygiene and its association with plaque acidogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association of long-term deposited plaque, due to lack of oral hygiene, with acidogenesis of the plaque bacteria.


METHODS
Seventy-seven subjects with poor oral hygiene were selected. Debris index (DI) and calculus index (CI) were recorded. Among them, 16 were DMFS > 8, and comprised the caries active (CA) group; 27 were caries free, and comprised the caries free (CF) group. Plaque fluids in both groups were analyzed for organic acids, phosphate, and inorganic cations by use of capillary electrophoresis, while pH was measured by microelectrodes.


RESULTS
No differences were found on debris index (CF group measured 2.07-0.47, CA group measured 2.01-0.53) or calculus index (CF group measured 2.47-0.50, CA group measured 2.48-0.53) relative to carious status, although there was a positive relationship between DI and CI (r = 0.52, P < 0.001). The main finding in this study was that the quantity of lactic acid produced by sucrose exposure in these individuals with poor oral hygiene was much less (increased no more than 2 times, compared with content at rest) than in a previous report (increased 3 to 5 times, compared with content at rest) on subjects with good oral hygiene habits.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term deposited plaque due to lack of oral hygiene may have less cariogenic capability, although patients' susceptibility to periodontal disease would increase.
Gao
X J
XJ
Departments of Cariology, Endodontology, and Operative Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Beijing Medical University, 38 Baishiqiao Road, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
Deng
D M
DM
Geng
Q M
QM
D000144:Acids, Acyclic / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000145:classification*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
D000144:Acids, Acyclic; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D010710:Phosphates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013395:Sucrose; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium