Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1006-1009, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Microbiological assessment of dental plaque on bovine enamel implants worn intra-orally in children
G. E. Minah, K. S. Kula and H. E. Strassler
Nine caries-active children, each from six to nine years old, wore small
removable enamel implants intra-orally for four weeks as part of an effort
to develop removable model systems for studying dental plaque in fissures.
The implants, consisting of two enamel cubes arranged to simulate a
fissural space, were cemented in box preparations in stainless steel crowns
on pulpotomized primary molars. Upon removal, the fissural spaces were
opened to facilitate plaque harvesting. The plaque samples were cultured,
and enamel decalcification of the plaque-exposed surfaces was measured.
Quantitative microbial values were compared with those of natural fissure
plaque samples from both caries-active (CA) and caries-and restoration-free
(CF) children, also from six to nine years old. Streptococcus mutans and S.
sanguis levels of fissural insert plaque (FI) and natural fissural plaque
from (CA) were similar. Both contained higher S. mutans levels than did
plaque from (CF). FI harbored higher concentrations of Lactobacillus and
Actinomyces species and lower concentrations of Neisseria species.
Otherwise, FI plaque resembled natural fissure plaque. Microhardness of FI
plaque-exposed enamel decreased significantly compared with
pre-experimental values and showed a significant negative correlation with
values for total lactobacilli on selective media, and for S. mutans on
non-selective media.
