THE ESTIMATION OF DENTAL CARIES ACTIVITY BY A NEW COLORIMETRIC LABORATORY TEST

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

¹ Division of Dental Medicine, College of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, Calif.

Three different tests for dental caries activity were performed to determine their value in the prediction of subsequent annual dental caries increment. Individual saliva samples of 129 University of California students were all analyzed for (1) a new colorimetric pH determination, (2) total titratable acid, and (3) the Lactobacillus acidophilus index.

One year later the increment of dental caries for each individual was determined and plotted against the results of these tests. Employing statistical methods, it was found that the increase in dental caries could be predicted within definite limits on the basis of each of the tests and that they had significant correlations with each other. The colorimetric pH determination method, however, appeared to be the most accurate, simple, and effective procedure which may be used in routine office practice.