A survey of micro flora present in dental caries and it’s relation to enviornmental factors

Abstract

Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory process that occurs in response to infection from bacteria in dental plaque. This may lead to dental caries that destroys the periodontal tissues causing teeth loss. It is also associated to systemic diseases.   In the present study an attempt has been made to find out the general bacterial fauna present in the dental caries. We also tried to find out the relationship between dental caries and age, sex, food habits, C-reactive protein, salivary pH, blood groups. Hundred dental carried subjects and 50 non carried subjects (aged between 23 to 50) volunteered for the study. The result shows a clear association of caries and salivary pH. Also a significant relation was found between the levels of C-reactive protein in saliva and dental caries. The results of study of bacterial fauna show that out of 80 different types of bacteria isolated 85% were gram positive and had a tendency to produce acid.