Premium
A microbiological study of dental calculus
Author(s) -
Sidaway D. A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1978.tb00190.x
Subject(s) - eikenella corrodens , microbiology and biotechnology , actinomyces , haemophilus , actinomyces naeslundii , biology , staphylococcus epidermidis , propionibacterium acnes , bacteria , calculus (dental) , staphylococcus aureus , medicine , dentistry , genetics
A simple in vitro system has been used to culture 34 species of microorganisms derived from human calculus. A confluent growth on the surface of an agar dise, was subjected to a daily 4 hr incubation in culture medium followed by 20 hr in a metastable solution of calcium phosphate, in a simplified organ culture vessel, for 7–17 days. Smears, taken daily, were stained by Von Kossa's method for the demonstration of calcification. 18 species showed evidence of calcification. In addition to the previously reported Bacterionema matruchotii , Streptococcus salivarius , Streptococcus sanguis (Sherman type 1), Veillonela alcalescens and a Neisseria species, calcification was also demonstrated in Actinomyces naeslundii , 1 strain of Actinomyces viscosus , an unidentified catalase positive facultative Gram‐positive rod, Staphylococcus epidermidis , Micrococcus varians , Eikenella corrodens , a Campylobacter sp. , Eubacterium saburreum , an unidentified Gram‐negative rod, Haemophilus aphrophilus , Haemophilus segnis , Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Propionibacterium acnes . The Gram‐negative flore of calculus thus shares with the more frequently studied Gram‐positive species the property of in vitro calcification. Since the surface of calculus is covered with plaque containing a high proportion of Gram‐negative microorganisms, it is suggested that they may play a larger part in the production of calculus than had been indicated previously.