Recovery of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis from a dental explorer after clinical examination of single human teeth

Abstract

Certain aspects of the bacterial flora adhering to a dental explorer following a tactile diagnostic examination of a single tooth were investigated. Plaque present on the explorer was dislodged, and suspended into a reduced transport fluid by sonification. After serial dilution, suitable aliquots were placed on a high sucrose-containing medium, and on a mannitol medium. Colonies resembling Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis were enumerated on these media. The explorer removed approximately 3-7 x 106 bacteria from a single tooth. Streptococcus mutans accounted for 17 per cent of the isolates from carious teeth and for 1.6 per cent of the isolates found on noncarious teeth. This difference was significant at the p Strep. sanguis were significantly higher in material removed from noncarious teeth than in plaque removed from the carious teeth.