title: Clinically acceptable restorations may be a hotbed for cariogenic microbes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association of dental restorations with salivary cariogenic pathogens among the elderly to establish effective parameters of caries risk for this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 289 community-dwelling older adults (66.2 ± 3.9 years old) who had 20 or more teeth. Salivary levels of three cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and lactobacilli) were estimated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of residual teeth was 26.4, and restored teeth with crowns, inlays and composite resin were 7.35, 3.88 and 0.68, respectively. The number of crowns correlated positively with salivary S. mutans, S. sobrinus and lactobacilli. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the number of restored teeth with crowns was independently associated with salivary S. mutans, S. sobrinus and lactobacilli after controlling for age, gender, number of residual teeth and salivary flow rate. Salivary flow rate was independently associated with salivary S. mutans and lactobacilli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of crowns had an association with salivary levels of cariogenic bacteria, suggesting that this parameter may be a caries risk indicator for the elderly population.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Taiji
authors: T
authors: Ogawa
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Ikebe
authors: Shunsuke
authors: S
authors: Murai
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Enoki
authors: Yoshinobu
authors: Y
authors: Maeda
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Imazato
authors: Shigeyuki
authors: S
authors: Ebisu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058491:Bacterial Load; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003442:Crowns / Q000382:microbiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007284:Inlays; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D006047:Gold Alloys; D012834:Silver; D010165:Palladium