title: Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva after the application of fissure sealants.
abstract: Because dental fissures may serve as reservoirs for mutans streptococci, preventive measures should be taken to control microbial concentrations at these sites. This study estimated the influence that sealing permanent first molars would have on the levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva of healthy seven-year-old schoolchildren. Permanent first molars were sealed in 31 children without caries (NC group) and in 32 children with caries (C group). None of the children had caries in their permanent first molars. Conventional methods were used to count mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva before applying the sealant and again at 4 and 12 weeks after application. Baseline counts of lactobacilli and mutans streptococci were significantly higher in the C group. A significant reduction in mutans streptococci was observed in the NC group at 4 and 12 weeks. It was concluded that fissure sealants in permanent first molars can help reduce salivary levels of mutans streptococci in children without caries.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Junco
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Llodra
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000382:microbiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008963:Molar / Q000382:microbiology; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D012923:Social Class; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants