title: Comparative analysis of colony counts of different species of oral streptococci in saliva of dentulous, edentulous and in those wearing partial and complete dentures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study and compare the number of colony forming units of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus milleri in dentulous, edentulous and in those wearing partial and complete dentures by using semi-quantitative culture method of saliva samples with calibrated standard loop.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sterile specimen collection bottles, Mitis salivarius agar plates, Standard loop, Candle jar, Incubator, Colony counter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study population consisted of 100 subjects with 25 in each group, with an age range of 40 to 80 years, who were attending the Department of Community Dentistry and Prosthodontics at MNR Dental College, Sangareddy, Hyderabad. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from patients and inoculated on to Mitis salivarius agar plates using calibrated standard loop. The plates were then incubated anaerobically at 37°C for 24 hours and left at room temperature for further 24 hours. Using a colony counter, the number of colonies of each species was counted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus mitis predominates in the dentulous group, Streptococcus sanguis in complete denture group, Streptococcus salivarius in edentulous group and Streptococcus milleri in removable partial denture group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study are in accordance with the previous studies, which have sought to differentiate different groups of mutans streptococci using a simple calibrated standard loop.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, MNR Dental College, Sangareddy, Andhra Pradesh, India, Phone: 9849409070 e-mail drekkr@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Kranti Kiran Reddy
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ealla
authors.forename: Suresh Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ghanta
authors.forename: Naveen Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Motupalli
authors.forename: Mahanthesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bembalgi
authors.forename: Praveen Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Madineni
authors.forename: P Krishnam
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Raju
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000382:microbiology*; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification*; D034364:Streptococcus milleri Group / Q000302:isolation & purification; D034361:Streptococcus mitis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014070:Tooth / Q000382:microbiology*