Studies of the Bacterial Plaque and Dental Caries

Abstract

Experimentation has indicated that qualitatively similar bacterial plaques can be produced in the mouth on various types of surfaces. Among other materials, celloidin has proven satisfactory. Removable appliances were constructed for areas with missing molar teeth. A celloidin tooth was prepd. on each appliance placed in the mouth for varying times. At intervals ranging from 19 to 30 hrs. the appliances were removed, the plaque bearing celloidin washed, fixed, sectioned at 8 min. and 10 min., and stained. The prepd. sections revealed a matrix structure of elongated rod forms extending out from the tooth surface at approx. right angles. Supported in this framework were other organisms of different morphologic structure. Correlated cultural studies are in progress.