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Microbiological changes associated with dental prophylaxis.

J Max Goodson1, Michael D Palys, Elizabeth Carpino

  • 1The Forsyth Institute, Boston, Mass. 02115, USA. mgoodson@forsyth.org

Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|December 30, 2004
PubMed
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Dental prophylaxis significantly reduces overall bacteria but does not alter plaque composition. Regular plaque removal is key for maintaining gingival health by reducing bacterial load nonspecifically.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Periodontology
  • Dental Hygiene

Background:

  • Dental prophylaxis is a common procedure, yet its microbiological effects are not well-documented.
  • Understanding the impact of prophylaxis on oral microbiota is crucial for patient therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microbiological impact of professional dental prophylaxis on oral plaque.
  • To determine if dental prophylaxis selectively targets specific bacterial species or groups.

Main Methods:

  • 20 healthy college students received three dental prophylaxes over two weeks.
  • Plaque samples were analyzed using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization for 40 bacterial species.
  • Microbiological composition was assessed before and after prophylaxis.

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Main Results:

  • Total bacterial count per tooth decreased by approximately 72% after prophylaxis.
  • Reductions in bacterial numbers were statistically significant across many species.
  • Bacterial proportion (DNA percentage) remained largely unchanged, indicating nonspecific removal.

Conclusions:

  • Professional dental prophylaxis removes bacteria nonspecifically, in proportion to their initial numbers.
  • Repeated prophylaxis reduces bacterial quantity but not oral microbiota composition.
  • This supports the need for regular plaque removal to manage gingival health.