World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ESTIMATION OF VARIATION IN THE PROPORTION OF VIRIDANS POPULATION IN SALIVA OF HEALTHY AND CARIOUS INDIVIDUALS

Dr. Meenakshi Mohan* and N.P. Muralidharan

ABSTRACT

Background: Oral cavity is colonized by many bacterial species, fungi and parasites. Though all these organisms are present in the oral cavity and are considered to be commensals, most of them are opportunistic. Some of these species in the oral cavity dominates in the number or proportion with others. Dominant members are usually harmless and the rest acts during pathological conditions. Maintaining bacterial proportion is directly proportional to proper maintenance of oral health. Any alteration in the respective proportion disturbs the normal flora which ultimately drives into pathology. Aim: Any pathology in oral cavity is a result of existence of one or more predisposing factors. The environment that is conductive to increase the bacterial proportion has to be identified. Diet, Host-Organisms relationship, salivary pH, oral hygiene maintenance are some of the factors responsible for the change in this proportion. In oral lesion etiological factors are multiple and the organisms involved are numerous and complex. This study is aimed at exploring the involvement of five common habitats of oral cavity in the caries process. Objective: Though there are many organisms associated in caries development, mutans are considered to be solely responsible for caries initiation. Studies report that voluntary colonization of oral cavity with probiotics has an effect in reducing the caries production. Hence this study is done to explore the possibility of other organisms involved in cariogenic activity.

[Full Text Article]   [Download Certificate]