LEC3

P1

-GR. Sucrose is an arch criminal?

1-low molecular weight can penetrate dental plaque
easily
2-can be used easily and rapidly by microorganisms to
produce acids
3-can form dextran and levan by the help of
microorganisms
4-sucrose is the most used sugar as it is cheap and
sweety

-GR. Monosaccharides are less cariogenic than

disaccharides/ glucose and fructose are less cariogenic
than sucrose despite that sucrose is formed of glucose
and fructose?
because when sucrose is hydrolysed to form glucose
and fructose it produces energy that can be used by the
microorganism to from dextran and levan

-caries doesn’t depend on the total amount of carbs but

depend on the frequency more

-factors affecting carcinogenicity of carbs:

1-type
2-total amount
3-frequency
4-texture and consistency
5-refienment
6-local effect: patients who take glucose injection are
not subjected to caries as to from caries the host must
be present (tooth and saliva) and the microorganism, so
carbs has a local effect not a systemic effect

-refinement of carbs = chemical treatment of carbs

-GR. Refinement will increase carcinogenicity

1-inc. conc. Of carbs
2-removeable of fibers so no cleansing effect
3-inc. adhesiveness

-Complete: refined carbs ….. (cariogenic)

-Refined carbs non-cariogenic …..(xylitol), while non-

refined carbs but cariogenic…..(honey)

-Dental plaque (VII): tenaciously adherent structer

formed on tooth surface and formed of microorganisms
and its products

-the function of dental plaque is the same as the

function of dextran: -selective permeable membrane
and adherent

-diffusion limiting = selective permeable

-GR, acquired enamel pellicle attaches to the tooth
surface by ionic bond
because the enamel crystals are +ve charged and the
acidic proline in saliva is -ve charged

-Vipeholm experiment is done by Gustafson

EXPERIMENTS:

1-MILLER’S
a)Experiment: two test tubes had CHO and saliva
containing microorganisms and a tooth then one of the
test tubes were subjected to heat
b)observation: the test tube not subjected to heat
produced a caries like lesion, while the other tube did
not
c)conclusion: microorganisms are essential for caries

2-ORLAND’S
a)Experiment:
obtained a germ free animal by caesarean sectioning of
pregnant rats under complete aseptic condition then the
rats where divided into two groups the first one grew in
an incubators and ate completely aseptic cariogenic
food, the second group lived in containers in air and ate
nonsterile food
b)observation: the first group no caries, while the
second one had caries
c)conclusion: caries only developed when bacteria is
introduced

-a further experiment was done to investigate which

species of bacteria were cariogenic
a)experiment: introduction of single known straines of
bacteria into oral cavity of germ free animal
(gnotobiots)
c)conclusion: S. Mutans is of particular relevance to
caries

3-VIPEHOLM by Gustafson:

a) Aim: investigate the effect of total amount, frequency

of intake and texture of carbs on caries incidence

b) Experiment: seven groups all receiving a basic low

carbohydrate diet.
1- Control group received a basic carbohydrate diet
supplemented to adequate caloric intake by margarine
(Fat).
2-Two groups took sugar at mealtimes either in solution
or as sweetened bread.
3- Four groups received sweets in the form of toffees,
caramels or chocolates between meals.
The experiment was conducted over a 5-years period

c) observation:
1- Eating sticky carbohydrates as toffees and caramels
between meals showed the highest caries activity.
2- Caries fell to its original low level when toffees and
caramels were no longer given.
3- The effect of chocolate was less severe.
4- Sugars, in either form at mealtimes showed little
effect on caries.
5- Caries activity was very low in the control group
receiving the low basic carbohydrate diet.

d) conclusion:
1- Frequency and texture of carbohydrates are more
effective on caries activity than total amount.
2- Sugar in a form that is retained on the teeth (sticky)
or eaten at frequent intervals must be regarded as the
most potent cause of dental caries.

4-HOPEWOOD HOUSE

5-STEPHAN’S/ ACID PRODUCTION:

a)aim: study the changes in PH of the plaque after
glucose intake

b)experiment:
1-he divided the patients into three groups
-completely free from caries
-moderate caries
-sever caries
then he measured the resting pH of each group by
antimony micro electrode
2- An electrode was placed in contact with the plaque
to measure the pH changes

3- Patients were allowed to rinse their mouth with 25ml

10% glucose solution for 10 seconds then spit or
swallow that solution.

4- then he measured after 2 minutes, then at five

minutes then at 10 minutes intervals for an hour

c)Observation:
1-resting pH :
-completely free caries were slightly alkaline
-moderate caries were around neutral
-sever were barely above the critical pH

2-sudden fall pf pH

3- slow return

c) conclusion:
(all the results of this experiment in the theoretical
book)