Rate of plaque formation--some clinical and biochemical characteristics of "heavy" and "light" plaque formers.

The purpose of the present study was to give a clinical and biochemical characterization of two groups of individuals with different rates of plaque formation. From 133 individuals, 9 "heavy" and 10 "light" plaque formers were selected. The mean plaque index after 3 days of plaque accumulation, on buccal surfaces of premolars and first molars, was 2.6 for the "heavy" and 0.6 for the "light" plaque formers. The following variables were determined: periodontal status, DFS, dietary habits, salivary secretion rate and buffer effect, S. mutans and lactobacillus counts in saliva, salivary content of IgA, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme, saliva-induced aggregation of certain oral streptococci, gel electrophoresis of saliva, amino acid composition of saliva and the acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area. Comparing the two groups of plaque formers, statistically significant differences were found for the following three variables: parotid saliva-induced aggregation of a strain of S. sanguis, content of glutamic acid in the acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area for maxillary premolars. Large variations for all studied variables were found, both within and between the groups. Several factors may be involved in plaque formation and none of the studied variables alone could explain the large difference in the amount of plaque formed after 3 days between the "heavy" and "light" plaque formers.