Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1051-1055, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Fissure removal and needle scraping for evaluation of the bacteria in occlusal fissures of human teeth
J. C. Meiers and C. F. Schachtele
The bacterial counts obtained with a needle-scrape method for collecting
plaque samples from human occlusal fissures with incipient caries were
compared with the microflora remaining in the fissures as determined with a
fissure removal method. Scraping of six fissures with a sterile needle
recovered only 18.2% of the total recovered fissure flora. The
needle-scrape method failed to detect specific cariogenic bacteria which
were present in four of the fissures. Treatment of nine fissures with an
antibacterial solution demonstrated that the needle method failed to detect
viable bacteria in eight of the fissures which were subsequently shown to
contain bacteria by fissure removal. The commonly used needle-scraping
method does not appear adequate for studies on the effect of antimicrobial
agents on fissure plaque.
