Oolong tea polyphenols inhibit experimental dental caries in SPF rats infected with mutans streptococci.

An extract of oolong tea (semifermented tea leaves of Camellia sinensis) and its chromatographically isolated polyphenolic compound was examined for in vitro inhibitory effects on glucosyltransferases (GTases) of mutans streptococci and on caries development in Sprague-Dawley rats infected with mutans streptococci. The samples showed no detectable effect on the growth of mutans streptococci. However, insoluble glucan synthesis from sucrose by the GTases of Streptococcus mutans MT8148R and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 was markedly inhibited, as was sucrose-dependent cell adherence of these mutans streptococci. The administration of the oolong tea extract and the isolated polyphenol compound into diet 2000 and drinking water resulted in significant reductions in caries development and plaque accumulation in the rats infected with mutans streptococci. The active components in the oolong tea extract were presumptively identified as polymeric polyphenols which were specific for oolong tea leaves. These results indicate that the oolong tea polyphenolic compounds could be useful for controlling dental caries.

Effects of hyposalivation on the oral microflora of rats fed sucrose or wheat flour diets.

The effects of hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries and on the composition of the oral microflora were examined in specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a sucrose or a wheat flour diet with or without inoculation of Streptococcus mutans. Significant dental caries was induced in hyposalivated rats fed diet 2000 containing 56% sucrose, irrespective of infection by S. mutans. Diets containing 56% wheat flour did not induce dental caries in either hyposalivated or sham-operated rats, irrespective of infection by S. mutans. Bacteriological examinations at the end of the experiment demonstrated that the total numbers of lactobacilli and staphylococci increased in hyposalivated rats irrespective of the diet given, while the inoculated stain of S. mutans decreased significantly in hyposalivated rats. These findings suggest that some acidogenic microorganisms such as lactobacilli and staphylococci that can utilize sucrose or glucose but not wheat flour may also promote dental caries in hyposalivated rats.

Noncariogenicity of maltitol in specific pathogen-free rats infected with mutans streptococci.

The effect of maltitol on caries development was examined in an experimental caries system employing specific pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats. Fourteen strains of oral streptococci, including mutans streptococci, did not utilize the maltitol nor produce sufficient acid to demineralize tooth enamel. Furthermore, maltitol did not serve as a substrate for glucosyltransferases of either Streptococcus mutans MT8148R or Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 to synthesize water-insoluble glucan. Maltitol induced no significant dental caries in SPF rats infected with these mutans streptococci, and replacement of the dietary sucrose content with maltitol resulted in a trend towards caries reduction in SPF rats.

Changes with time in the oral microflora and dental caries induction in hyposalivated rats fed on sucrose diet.

The effects of hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries and the change in oral microflora were examined at weekly intervals in Sprague-Dawley rats fed on diet 2000 containing 56% sucrose. In hyposalivated rats, significant dental caries was induced within one week and its severity increased with the experimental period. Bacteriological examinations demonstrated that the number of total cultivable microorganisms, lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus increased significantly shortly after surgical induction of hyposalivation, while the number of streptococci and yeasts did not increase significantly until the 7th week, beyond which time remarkable gross caries developed. A positive correlation was found between the caries score and the recovery of lactobacilli from mandibles of hyposalivated rats, while there was no statistically significant correlation between the caries score and the recoveries of S. aureus. On the other hand, dental caries was not induced in control rats fed on sucrose diet with no surgically-induced hyposalivation. It was also found that the number of lactobacilli increased significantly shortly after diet 2000 was given to control rats, but S. aureus was rarely recovered from the mandibles of control rats throughout the experiments. The roles of lactobacilli and S. aureus in the induction of dental caries under the hyposalivated condition were discussed and it was suggested that lactobacilli may play some significant role in the induction of dental caries in hyposalivated rats.

Trehalulose does not induce dental caries in rats infected with mutans streptococci.

The effects of trehalulose, a structural isomer of sucrose, and a syrup (TP syrup) rich in trehalulose and palatinose on caries development were examined in specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats. Streptococcus mutans MT8148R and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 fermented the syrup which resulted in acid production, while both strains were found not to utilize trehalulose. Furthermore, trehalulose did not serve as a substrate for glucosyltransferases of these mutans streptococci to synthesize water-insoluble glucan, and it inhibited the sucrose-dependent adherence of mutans streptococci to a glass surface. Although trehalulose induced no significant dental caries in specific pathogen-free rats infected with either MT8148R or 6715, TP syrup was found to induce significant but low dental caries. Furthermore, replacement of the dietary sucrose content with trehalulose resulted in a significant reduction of caries development in rats infected with strain 6715.

[A case of a calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with odontoma inducing impaction of a deciduous tooth].

A 4-year-old boy was examined with a chief complaint of "Delayed eruption of maxillary right deciduous central incisor". Oral examination revealed a firm swelling on the labial gingiva at the right deciduous incisor of maxilla. Radiographic examination revealed that odontoma-like substances disturbed the eruption of the central deciduous maxillary incisor. The odontoma-like substances were removed surgically and examined histopathologically. The thin sections showed findings typical of a Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst with Odontoma.

[Caries-inducing activity of soybean-oligosaccharide (SOR) in vitro and in experimental dental caries of rats].

The caries-inducing activity of soybean-oligosaccharide (SOR: stachyose- and raffinose-rich sugar mixture) was examined in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Streptococcus mutans MT 8148R fermented SOR and produced acids. However Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 did not ferment. SOR was not able to act as a substrate for crude glucosyltransferases (GTase) of these mutans streptococci to synthesize the water-insoluble glucan. However, SOR did not inhibit the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan from sucrose by crude GTase. SOR was proved to be of low cariogenicity in rats infected with S. sobrinus 6715.

Dental caries induction in hyposalivated rats.

The effects of hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries and on the oral microflora were examined in SPF Sprague-Dawley rats with or without inoculation of oral streptococci. Significant dental caries was induced in hyposalivated rats, irrespective of the infection with oral streptococci including Streptococcus mutans. In addition, bacteriological analyses demonstrated that the total number of lactobacilli increased significantly at the expense of the inoculated streptococci. These findings suggest that opportunistic infections may be induced in the oral cavity of hyposalivated rats and some acidogenic microorganisms including lactobacilli may promote the induction of dental caries.

Oral manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VII: histological examination of a primary tooth.

A two-year, 2-month old girl with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Type VII is described. The patient presented with bleeding after tooth brushing, and exhibited microdontia and yellow discoloration of teeth. She had carious teeth, but did not exhibit periodontal disease, poor wound healing after extraction, radiographic evidences of pulp stones, or malformed roots. Microscopic examination of a decalcified section of an extracted tooth stained with H & E demonstrated some inclusions in the dentin, around which collagen was either missing or scanty, as confirmed by counterstaining with van Gieson's solution. The sections of pulp stained with van Gieson's solution showed an abnormal pattern of fibrous tissue. Furthermore, the radiopacity of the dentin of this patient was significantly higher than that of the control dentin.

Plaque formation of dietary isomaltulose in humans.

The plaque formation of isomaltulose, a sucrose isomer, was examined in 15 human volunteers with both diet and oral hygiene under supervision. The subjects were requested to refrain from all oral hygiene procedures for 3 days and were provided between-meal snacks containing 157 g of 4 test sugars (100% isomaltulose, 70% isomaltulose + 30% sucrose, 50% isomaltulose + 50% sucrose, and 100% sucrose). The study was repeated 4 times over 4 weeks. The isomaltulose diet resulted in the lowest plaque index, while sucrose induced a significantly greater deposition. In the absence of sucrose-containing snacks, mutans streptococci in saliva decreased below the baseline level. These results suggest that isomaltulose may be a suitable substitute for sucrose in between meal snacks.

Effect of experimental hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries in rats infected with Streptococcus mutans.

The effects of hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries were examined in specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats infected with Streptococcus mutans MT8148R and fed the caries-inducing diet 2000. Hyposalivation was induced by either irradiation or surgical removal of salivary glands in 30-day-old rats. After either procedure, severe dental caries was induced in the rats when examined at 84 days of age, and a statistically significant correlation was found between caries scores and flow rates of saliva. However, the recovery of strain MT8148R from hyposalivated rats was not always high, and it is possible that microorganisms other than the inoculated S. mutans strain MT8148R may have played a role in promoting dental caries.

[Caries-inducing activity of isomaltooligosugar (IMOS) in in vitro and rat experiments].

The caries-inducing activity of Isomaltooligosugar (IMOS: a isomaltose rich sugar mixture) was examined in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Strains of Streptococcus mutans MT8148R and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 fermented IMOS and produced acids. IMOS inhibited the glucan synthesis from sucrose by glucosyltransferases from both of S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Furthermore, IMOS inhibited sucrose-dependent adherence of those mutans streptococci. IMOS was found to induce significant but minimal caries SPF Sprague-Dawley rats infected with either MT8148R and 6715. However, IMOS did not inhibit the caries which was induced by sucrose.

[Non-cariogenicity of maltitol in vitro and animal experiments].

The caries inducing activity of maltitol was examined in in vitro and animal experiments. Fifteen strains of oral streptococci were not able to ferment maltitol. Also, maltitol inhibited the glucan synthesis from sucrose by GTases from mutans streptococci. However, the inhibition of growing-cell adherence was not so marked with the addition of maltitol to sucrose culture. In the animal experiments, maltitol did not induced dental caries in rats infected with mutans streptococci. Furthermore, maltitol significantly inhibited the sucrose-induced dental caries in rats infected with S. sobrinus 6715. However, there was no significant difference in rats infected with S. mutans MT8148R. These results indicated that maltitol is useful as a non-cariogenic sucrose substitute.

Effect of inoculum size and frequency on the establishment of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavities of experimental animals.

SPF Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice were inoculated with either Streptococcus mutans MT8148R (serotype c) or 6715 (g), and the influence of inoculum size, inoculum frequency, and sucrose on the establishment of S. mutans in the oral cavity was examined. Successful colonization of S. mutans in the experimental animals was absolutely dependent on the number of the cells introduced orally. Furthermore, inoculum frequency and sucrose seemed to act as secondary factors to modify the establishment of S. mutans, and it is suggested that high inoculum frequency may decrease the inoculum size necessary for the colonization of S. mutans in the oral cavity.

Maternal transmission and dental caries induction in Sprague-Dawley rats infected with Streptococcus mutans.

Thirty-four female rats (18 days old) were infected with Streptococcus mutans MT8148R (serotype c) or 6715 (g). Diets containing different proportions of sucrose were used to prepare the dams which harbored various levels of S. mutans in their oral cavity. Around 66 days of age, the female rats were bred and 34 dams subsequently bore 322 offspring. The dams were killed upon weaning (20 days of age) of their respective litters. There were positive correlations between the recovery of inoculated S. mutans and the caries incidence in the dams. Transmission of S. mutans from a dam to her offspring was studied in 10-, 15-, 20-, 27-, 34-, 41-, 48-, and 55-day-old rats by evaluating the recover of S. mutans from the offspring. Positive correlation between the magnitudes of recovered S. mutans MT8148R from dams and their offspring was found in all ages of young rats examined. Furthermore, caries incidence in young rats was found to be positively correlated with the recovery of both strains of S. mutans as well as with incidence of caries in their respective dams.

The caries inhibitory effects of GOS-sugar in vitro and in rat experiments.

The caries inhibitory activity of GOS-sugar (panose- and maltose-rich sugar mixture) was examined and compared with that of sucrose, maltose, or glucose in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Streptococcus mutans MT8148R (serotype c) and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 (g) did ferment GOS-sugar and produce acid in a similar way as with maltose and glucose. However, GOS-sugar could not be a substrate for the glucosyltransferases (GTases) of these mutans streptococci to synthesize the water-insoluble glucan. Also, it significantly inhibited not only the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan from sucrose by the crude GTases but also the sucrose-dependent adherence of these cells to a glass surface. In particular, adherence of growing cells of 6715 was markedly inhibited by the presence of GOS-sugar. GOS-sugar was found to induce significant but minimal dental caries in SPF rats infected with either MT8148R or 6715. Furthermore, the replacement of half of the dietary sucrose content with GOS-sugar resulted in a significant reduction of caries development in rats infected with strain 6715.