Jeevarathan J, Deepti A, Muthu M S, Rathna Prabhu V, Chamundeeswari G S
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2007 Oct-Dec;25(4):157-63. doi: 10.4103/0970-4388.37010.
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases and although of multifactorial origin, Streptococcus mutans is considered the chief pathogen in its development. Fluoride is one of the most effective agents used for the reduction of dental caries apart from oral hygiene maintenance.
The aim of this study was to estimate the counts of Streptococcus mutans and to evaluate the effect of Fluor Protector fluoride varnish on these counts in the plaque of caries-free children using Dentocult SM Strip Mutans.
Thirty caries-free subjects were selected for the study based on the information obtained from a questionnaire and were randomly assigned to the control group consisting of ten subjects and the study group consisting of twenty subjects. Plaque samples were collected on the strips from the Dentocult SM kit and after incubation, the presence of Streptococcus mutans was evaluated using the manufacturer's chart. The study group was subjected to a Fluor Protector fluoride varnish application following which the samples were collected again after 24 hours.
The average Streptococcus mutans counts in the primary dentition of caries-free children before and after the application of Fluor Protector fluoride varnish were 10(4)-10(5) colony forming units (CFU)/ml and <10(4) CFU/ml respectively.
The results showed that the study group had a statistically significant reduction in the plaque Streptococcus mutans counts than the control group.
龋齿是最常见的传染病之一，尽管其发病具有多因素性，但变形链球菌被认为是其发展过程中的主要病原体。除保持口腔卫生外，氟化物是用于减少龋齿的最有效药剂之一。
本研究的目的是使用Dentocult SM Strip Mutans估计无龋儿童牙菌斑中变形链球菌的数量，并评估氟保护漆对这些数量的影响。
根据问卷调查获得的信息，选择30名无龋受试者进行研究，并将其随机分为对照组（10名受试者）和研究组（20名受试者）。从Dentocult SM试剂盒的试纸上采集牙菌斑样本，培养后，根据制造商的图表评估变形链球菌的存在情况。研究组使用氟保护漆，24小时后再次采集样本。
应用氟保护漆前后，无龋儿童乳牙列中变形链球菌的平均数量分别为10(4)-10(5)菌落形成单位（CFU）/毫升和<10(4) CFU/毫升。
结果表明，研究组牙菌斑中变形链球菌的数量比对照组有统计学意义的减少。
