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The Predominant Aciduric Microflora of Root-caries Lesions

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW, susan.brailsford{at}kcl.ac.uk

B. Shah

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

D. Simons

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

S. Gilbert

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

D. Clark

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

I. Ines

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

S.E. Adams

Unilever Oral Care Research, Port Sunlight, Quarry Road East, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 3JW, England

C. Allison

Unilever Oral Care Research, Port Sunlight, Quarry Road East, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 3JW, England

D. Beighton

Caries Research Group, GKT Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RW

The etiology of root caries is not fully understood, and although mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and A. naeslundii have been implicated in its initiation and progression, this study was designed to determine the potential role of other microbial species and the nature of predominant aciduric microflora in the root caries process. We isolated the predominant aciduric microflora from root-caries lesions (n = 14) and sound root surfaces in subjects with (n = 13) or without (n = 10) root caries, using both a "most probable numbers" method and conventional plating methods. The predominant aciduric bacteria from root lesions were lactobacilli and A. israelii, while from sound root surfaces in subjects with root caries, A. gerencseriae comprised over 60% of aciduric isolates. Mutans streptococci were not among the aciduric isolates. Subjects without root caries harbored fewer bacteria, and S. anginosus (pH 4.8) and S. oralis (pH 5.2) were the predominant aciduric bacteria. The microbial etiology of root caries is more complex than was previously appreciated, and factors underlying the microbial succession occurring during the disease process are not known. Taxa with previously unrecognized aciduric characteristics have been isolated routinely, and the role of these organisms in the root caries process requires further investigation.

Key Words: root caries • aciduric • Actinomyces • lactobacilli

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 80, No. 9, 1828-1833 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345010800091101


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