Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1284-1288, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

Effect of splint placement on black-pigmented Bacteroides and spirochetes in the dental plaque of beagle dogs

F. H. Mikx, D. N. Ngassapa, F. M. Reijntjens and J. C. Maltha

The gingival microbiota in beagle dogs was investigated during a period of 42 days after the placement of continuous wire and arch bar splints. The splints were found to induce an increase in helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms and black-pigmented Bacteroides. Two different asaccharolytic Bacteroides types were isolated and tentatively identified as B. gingivalis and B. asaccharolyticus. In addition, B. intermedius-like organisms were isolated. The last two species were observed only after splint placement. The local accumulation of helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms in the epithelial tissue rather than in the micro-ulcerations was regarded as an indication of an active role for these spirochetes in the disease process. The observed shift toward tissue-invading and potentially pathogenic micro-organisms after splinting stresses the need for antimicrobial measures during splint placement in order to minimize periodontal destruction.

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