title: Black Stains: a microbiological analysis and a view on familiarity and susceptibility to tooth decay of patients in childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess prevalence, familial predisposition and susceptibility to caries of Black Stains (BS). Evaluate the microbiological composition of BS, saliva and subgingival plaque.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty nine subjects with BS (test group) and 120 subjects without BS (control group) were analysed for oral status. For each BS-patient, a BS-deposit, 1 ml of saliva and subgingival plaque were collected and microbiologically analysed. Five deciduous teeth with BS were observed under SEM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed a BS prevalence similar to that of the Mediterranean area and a familiality. The microbiological origin of BS was confirmed by SEM and culture method and the BS flora differ from that of supragingival plaque.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predominance in BS and saliva of Actinomycetes and the low salivary prevalence of S. mutans and L. acidophilus may be related with low caries incidence in BS patients. The high presence of Actinomyces spp can be a causative factor for BS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral, and Biotechnological Sciences, Dental School, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tripodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral, and Biotechnological Sciences, Dental School, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Medicine, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Medicine, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Dental School, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Ercole
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous