ASSESSMENT OF THE CARIES ACTIVITY TEST (CARIOSTAT) BASED ON THE INFECTION LEVELS OF MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI AND LACTOBACILLI IN 2-YEAR-OLD TO 13-YEAR-OLD CHILDRENS DENTAL PLAQUE
M. Nishimura et al., ASSESSMENT OF THE CARIES ACTIVITY TEST (CARIOSTAT) BASED ON THE INFECTION LEVELS OF MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI AND LACTOBACILLI IN 2-YEAR-OLD TO 13-YEAR-OLD CHILDRENS DENTAL PLAQUE, Journal of dentistry for children, 65(4), 1998, pp. 248
It is generally agreed that mutans streptococci and lactobacilli are a
ssociated etiologically with dental caries. The caries activity test,
Cariostat, was designed to measure the pH decrease caused by microorga
nisms in the plaque sample obtained from the buccal surfaces. Research
ers found the test to be a reliable, diagnostic, and predictive device
. Incubation was done on MS and MSB plates in an atmosphere of 95 perc
ent N and 5 percent CO at 37 degrees C and for 48 hours. The relations
hip of the Cariostat scores and the pH values are shown in a table. Th
e test scores are shown for two age:groups: Ages two-to-six years with
primary dentitions, and ages five-to-thirteen years with mixed dentit
ions. The advantages of the Cariostat test are: the sampling method is
simple and the time of analysis is short; the test can be used for th
e very young and for patients difficult to manage; and it requires no
specialized knowledge or equipment.