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- The distribution and prevalence of Streptococcus
- mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were determined
- at three sub-sites in human approximal plaque: away
- from (A), to the side of (S) and below (B) the
- contact area. Small plaque samples were taken from
- all three sub-sites on clinically sound approximal
- surfaces of a single premolar from each of 21
- schoolchildren. S. mutans was detected
- significantly more often and in higher proportions
- than S. sobrinus from sub-sites A (p = 0.019), S (p
- = 0.034) and B (p = 0.004). S. mutans was detected
- in highest proportions from the B site compared to
- the A site (p = 0.025); there were no significant
- differences in the isolation frequency or
- prevalence of S. sobrinus from any of the sub-
- sites. S. mutans and S. sobrinus were never
- isolated together from the A sub-sites and were
- recovered together most commonly from the B sub-
- sites (p<0.01). It is concluded that S. mutans and
- S. sobrinus preferentially colonise the most caries-
- prone site apical to the contact area.
-