| Abstract: | Samples of dental plaque obtained from the interproximal tooth surfaces of seven young men showed considerable variation in the prevalence and anatomic site distribution of the potentially cariogenic microorganism S mutans. Multiple application of 10% SnF2 topical solution and saline solution delivered to interproximal test sites with dental floss were evaluated as short-term measures for eliminating S mutans from these surfaces. A greater overall reduction in the number of positive S mutans sites was observed for the SNF2-treated sites than the saline solution-treated sites. Long term studies are required to evaluate the effect of the treatments on the incidence of dental caries. |
