MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH OF S.MUTANS DURING THE COURSE OF A MICRO-INVASIVE STEPWISE TREATMENT OF DENTINE CARIES

Abstract

Introduction: The stepwise, controlled excavation is a method for a micro-invasive treatment in the cases of deep dentine caries, and is carried out in two stages. Aim: To study the quantity of S.mutans during the course of a micro-invasive, stepwise treatment of dentine caries. Materials and Methods: Subject of the study were 60 permanent children’s teeth with dentine carious lesions, which were treated with a stepwise excavation (a three-month course), controlled through a fluorescent method (Proface), distributed into three groups: control group with a complete excavation down to sound dentine and 2 test groups: test group 1 - with excavation down to partially infected dentine, test group 2 –with excavation down to affected dentine. Microbiological identification and quantitative assessment were carious out through a culture study. Results: After a three-month treatment of partially infected dentine, an additional excavation is necessary in some of the cases, while no bacterial growth is observed in excavated caries lesion to affected dentine. The micro-invasive approach with a stepwise controlled excavation proves the possibility for arresting the cariogenic process and absence of residual cariogenic microorganisms after a three-month treatment.

Keywords

• stepwise excavation
• dentine caries
• s.mutans