Open AccessReal‐time polymerase chain reaction quantification of the salivary levels of cariogenic bacteria in patients with orthodontic fixed appliances
Author(s) -
AlMelh Manal A.,
Bhardwaj Radhika G.,
Pauline Eunice M.,
Karched Maribasappa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.464
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2057-4347
DOI - 10.1002/cre2.285
Subject(s) - lactobacillus casei , streptococcus sobrinus , streptococcus salivarius , saliva , polymerase chain reaction , streptococcus mutans , dentistry , lactobacillus , medicine , streptococcus gordonii , streptococcus , real time polymerase chain reaction , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Abstract Aim The aim was to investigate the salivary detection frequencies and quantities of caries‐associated bacteria from patients with orthodontic brackets. Methods Patients wearing orthodontic brackets ( n = 40, mean age = 26 years) and healthy controls without brackets ( n = 40, mean age = 17 years) were enrolled in the study. Saliva samples from each patient was collected. After DNA purification, target species comprising streptococci and a Lactobacillus species were detected and quantified from the samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real‐time quantitative PCR. Results Detection frequencies did not differ between the orthodontic patients and the control subjects for any target species except for S treptococcus sobrinus , which showed significantly lower detection rates in orthodontic patients ( p < .05). Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus gordonii were found at the highest detection frequencies with both species being detected in 38 (95%) of the saliva samples of orthodontic patients. Similarly, L. casei and Streptococcus salivarius were the species with highest detection frequencies (35, 87.5%) in the control subjects. Real‐time PCR revealed that Streptococcus mutans and S. salivarius quantities were significantly higher in orthodontic patients than in the control subjects ( p < .05). Conclusions Application of orthodontic brackets for 12 months leads to increased salivary levels of cariogenic bacteria and may serve as a potential risk factor for caries initiation.