Acid Production in Sucrose by Oral Bacteria as Means of Estimating Caries Activity (Rickles Test)

¹ Department of Bacteriology, University of Oregon Dental School, Portland, Oregon

Acid formation in 8 per cent sucrose (Rickles test) by single specimens of saliva or specimens collected over a 6-month period from 138 children was shown to have so little correlation with number of new carious surfaces observed per child 6-12 months after sampling that individual predictability was impossible. Similar conclusions were reached for estimation of caries activity in this group by Lactobacillus counts and Snyder test reactions using the same specimens of saliva as test material.