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Analysis of Salivary Flow Rate, Buffering Capacity and Isolation Of Streptococcus mutans Using Selective MSKB Media in Caries Active and Caries Free School Children

Priya shirish Joshi, Sumeet Ahale, Dr. Shirish G. Joshi, Madhuri Chougule and Bhagyalaxmi Hongal

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease and the important etiologic factors include streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli counts, salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and past caries experience. It is also modified by factors like type of diet, oral hygiene practices, uses of fluoride and other preventive measures. Although immense research has been done on all variables affecting dental caries, models having better predictive power in caries risk assessment have not been validated among Indian population. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether salivary counts of S. mutans combined with measurement of salivary flow rate and buffer effect can be used for diagnostic and predictive purpose in cariology. Materials and methods: The study was conducted amongst 50 school children aged between 9 to 12 years and were divided in two groups based on their DMFT, def scores as caries active and caries free respectively with 25subjects each. Collected saliva samples were processed to analyse salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and Streptococcus mutans count on Mitis Salivarius Kanamycin Bacitracin (MSKB) selective growth medium. Results: Statistically significant difference was observed on quantitative and qualitative comparison of salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and log Streptococcus mutans CFU counts in saliva of dental caries active and caries free group with p value at 0.00001 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The mutans selective growth medium, MSKB is an excellent diagnostic medium for growth of Streptococcus mutans. Salivary variables like flow rate and buffering capacity can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool to assess caries experience and predict caries risk.