EVALUATION OF A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR SITE-SPECIFIC DETERMINATION OF MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI LEVELS

To determine the oral mutans streptococcal ''load'' of an individual, saliva samples reflecting the number of colonized tooth surfaces, are often applied. Sometimes a plaque sample from a specific site would be an advantage, for example in connection with local antimicrobial trea tments. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate a chairside metho d for determination of mutans streptococci interproximally. One hundre d subjects participated. Four approximal tooth surfaces of each indivi dual were sampled using toothpicks. The toothpicks were then let to co ntaminate a pad on a specially designed plastic strip and, for compari son, a MSB-agar plate. The strips were incubated in the standard ''Str ip mutans'' broth. The yield of colony forming units on the strip surf ace corresponded significantly with that on agar plates. Being a simpl e chair-side method for the evaluation of the site-specific load of mu tans streptococci, it is suggested that the method will be used in var ious investigations to clarify its potential in different clinical sit uations.