Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacilli and Streptococcus sanguis in Plaque from Abutment Teeth of Cemented and of Loose Retainers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 17 patients bridgework was removed by ultrasound because of loosening of one retainer. Loosening had been recorded 4 days to 9 months earlier. Abutments of cemented retainers were noncarious in all patients. Abutments of loose retainers were noncarious in only 11 patients. In these persons, however, higher percentages of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli and a lower percentage of Streptococcus sanguis of total cultivable flora were found in plaque samples from abutments of loose retainers compared to in plaque samples from cemented retainers. The differences were statistically significant. The findings, which indicate that loosening of retainers is associated with a selection for S. mutans and lactobacilli and an increased S. mutans to S. sanguis ratio in abutment plaque, may help to explain why caries often seems to develop rapidly on abutment teeth of loose retainers.