Observations on Experimental Dental Caries

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Abstract
Two litter-mate groups of Syrian hamsters, 23 days old, were reared for 100 days on two similar diets having the same growth-promoting action. The two rations had 70% of identical ingredients, mostly carbohydrates ground yellow corn 40%, sucrose 20%, corn starch 5%, and potato starch 5%. The remaining 30% of the diet given to group 1 consisted of casein 16%, yeast 8%, salt mixture 3%, lard 3%, vitamin E 0.01%, and vitamin K 0.001%. The remaining 30% of the diet given to group 2 contained powdered whole milk 19%, yeast 5%, alfalfa meal 5%, and NaCl 1%. The diets, as well as water, were supplied ad libitum, and the animals were weighed every week. The diet given to group 1 had an initial pH of 5. 51, and that given to group 2 had one of 5. 55. Both groups exhibited the same health appearance and the same growth rate in spite of the fact that the ration given to group 1 had a total protein content of 236, and that given to group 2 one of 12. 52. This indicates the possibility that the powdered milk and/or the alfalfa of the ration given to group 2 contained a factor or factors which compensated the lower growth rate to be expected from the lower protein content of this ration. On the other hand, group 1 exhibited an incidence and extent of caries significantly lower than group 2. A reversal of this was found in relation to periodontal disease: group 1 exhibited much higher incidence of gingival atrophy and alveolar resorption than group 2. Some of the factors which may have accounted for these differences are discussed.
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