Assessment of Salivary Mutans Streptococci Counts to Atraumatic Restorative Treatment Among Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Introduction Besides the survival rate of restorations, the effect of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) on bacterial count is also important. After ART restoration, the bacterial count drops due to the fluoride's antibacterial activity and hence it can decrease the chances of further decay. The present study assessed salivary mutans streptococci counts for six months of evaluations subsequent to ART among 12-15-year-old children attending schools in Piparia village, Vadodara district. Methods ART was performed on 32 children and followed up after six months to evaluate the success rate of ART. Saliva collection and microbial analysis were performed five times from every participant, before ART restoration placement, seven days, 30 days (one month), 90 days (three months) and 180 days (six months) post-restoration. Results At baseline, the mean colony forming units (CFU) was 48.30 ± 46.58, which reduced to 32.64 ± 30.40 at one week, which showed a 32% reduction in colony counts. This further reduced to 18.60 ± 20.81 at one month, marking a further 43% reduction in colony counts. This again reduced to 13.63 ± 18.04 at three months, which showed a 27% reduction in colony counts. CFU came to 16.23 ± 23.34 at six months, which showed a 19% increase in colony counts. Comparison of baseline mean CFU (48.30 ± 46.58) to six months mean CFU of streptococcus mutans (SM) (16.23 ± 23.34) showed a 66% reduction in colony counts. A statistically significant difference was found between numerous intervals of time of CFU of streptococcus mutans. Conclusion The findings reveal that ART is a clinical treatment that can be used to treat caries in young children, and it helped significantly reduce Streptococcus Mutans levels in saliva.

Effect of traditionally used neem and babool chewing stick (datun) on streptococcus mutans: an in-vitro study.

PURPOSE: There are various plants, which are used as chewing sticks in different parts of the world. Several studies have been reported on the antimicrobial effects of chewing sticks on oral bacteria. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of traditionally used neem and babool chewing sticks (datun) extracts on Streptococcus mutans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present invitro study was conducted to assess effectiveness of 5%, 10%, and 50% neem and babool extract on Streptococcus mutans. The ditch plate method was used to test the antimicrobial activity. Ditches were prepared on blood agar plates with the help of punch having 6mm diameter. The plates were left for 1h at room temperature and then incubated at 37°C for 48h and examined for zone of inhibition. RESULTS: There was no zone of inhibition observed with 5% babool and neem aqueous extract. There was significant difference in mean diameter of zone of inhibition of 10% neem and babool extract (p-value 0.001 < 0.05). Similarly the mean difference in 50% neem and babool extract was found to be significant (p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both neem and babool extracts had antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans, while antimicrobial activity was significantly higher in neem aqueous extract than babool aqueous extract.

Prevalence of Oral Mucosal and Extraoral Lesions among Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Patients Attending to a Private Hospital, India.

Aim of the Study : To assess the prevalence of oral mucosal and extraoral lesions among the cleft lip and/or palate subjects aged between 3 and 18 years, and to compare with those of noncleft controls. Methodology : A cross sectional survey was conducted during the period of March 2004 to September 2004. A select sample of 150 cases consisted of cleft lip and/or palate subjects aged between 3 and 18 years reporting to Outpatient Department, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, private Hospital and Medical Research Center, Belgaum. A sample of 450 matched noncleft subjects (Controls) was selected based on convenience from general population. Oral health assessment form as prescribed in Basic Oral Health Surveys, WHO, was used to record the data. Results : Approximately 43% of cleft subjects had abnormalities of upper lip. 7% of clefts and 5% of noncleft controls presented enlarged lymph nodes on palpation in the head and neck region. Both the cleft subjects and noncleft controls had ulcerations in the buccal mucosa. However, there was no significant difference between them. Among few cleft subjects abscess formation was observed in the sulcus region (1.33%) as well as gingiva (2.66%) adjacent to cleft. Similarly among controls also few abscess in sulcus and gingival region were observed. Conclusions : On intra-and extraoral examination of cleft and noncleft subjects for any lesions revealed that clefts as well as noncleft subjects exhibited few intraoral lesions, however clinically or statistically significant differences were not observed.