[Immunological aspects of caries prophylaxis (author's transl)].

The bacteriological and immunological principles for the development of a vaccine against dental caries are presented in a short survey. The potential cariogenic Streptococcus mutans is the center of interest of this special area of research in caries prophylaxis because of its peculiar characteristics. In animal experiments, the protective effects of attempts to immunize with this cario-etiologically relevant species of streptococcus or its metabolic products differed and were sometimes contradictory. Also conditions in the human show no distinct connection between the dental status and the appearance of specific antibodies against Strept. mutans antigens. The pertinent literature cannot answer the question whether and when an effective vaccine against dental caries can be produced at the present time.