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J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.01410-07
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Bacteria of Dental Caries in Primary and Permanent Teeth in Children and Young Adults

Department of Molecular Genetics, The Forsyth Institute, and Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jornaaas{at}odont.uio.no.

	Abstract

Although Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as a major etiological agent of dental caries, our cross-sectional preliminary study indicated that 10% of subjects with rampant caries in permanent teeth do not have detectable levels of S. mutans. Our aims were to use molecular methods to detect all bacterial species associated with caries in primary and permanent teeth and to determine the bacterial profiles associated with different disease states. Plaque was collected from 39 healthy controls and intact enamel, white spot-, dentin-, and deep dentinal-lesions in each of 51 subjects with severe caries. 16S rRNA genes were PCR-amplified, cloned and sequenced to determine species identity. In a reverse capture checkerboard assay, 243 samples were analyzed for 110 prevalent bacterial species. Sequencing analysis of 1,285 16S rRNA clones detected 197 bacterial species/phylotypes, of which 50% were not cultivable. 22 new phylotypes were identified. Proc Mixed tests revealed health- and disease-associated species. In subjects with S. mutans, additional species, e.g., Atopobium, Propionibacterium, and Lactobacillus were present at significantly higher levels. Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium dentium, and low pH non-mutans streptococci were predominant in subjects with no detectable S. mutans. Actinomyces and non-mutans streptococci were predominant in white spot lesions while known acid producers were found at their highest levels later in disease. Bacterial profiles change with disease states and differ from primary to secondary dentition. Bacterial species other than S. mutans, e.g., Veillonella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Propionibacterium, low pH non-mutans streptococci, Actinomyces and Atopobium spp., likely play important roles in caries progression.