title: Measurement of the cariogenicity of snacks using a radioisotope PAHA disc.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to establish a method for measuring the cariogenic potential of foods with high reproducibility in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) was incubated in test foods with radioisotope polyacrylamide hydroxyapatite (PAHA) for 150 min at 37 °C. Then, the amount of radioisotope (32)P released from PAHA was measured using a liquid scintillation counter and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The radioisotope PAHA discs that were soaked in 10% sucrose solutions had a high cariogenic potential and showed a remarkably demineralized surface (p < 0.05). The radioisotope PAHA disc that was incubated with snacks that had a high cariogenic potential showed a remarkably demineralized surface via SEM. Candy had a relatively high cariogenic potential, whereas xylitol gum had a relatively low potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cariogenicity of snacks can easily be evaluated by measuring the amount of (32)P released from radioisotope PAHA discs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive & Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye-Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: In-Kyeong
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kwang-Hak
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Bo-Hyoung
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Dai-il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D004032:Diet; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D007723:Korea; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D017886:Durapatite; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D013395:Sucrose; D014993:Xylitol; D000099166:Polyacrylamides