William H Bowen

..Acid production is just one of many biological processes that occur within plaque when exposed to sugar. Exploration of methods to enhance alkali production could produce rich research dividends...

..The arrival of genetically altered microorganisms along with availability of knock-out rodents offers exciting challenges to further explore the pathogenesis of this still too common disease...

..Clearly, conformational changes and reactions of Gtfs on surfaces are complex and modulate the pathogenesis of dental caries in situ, deserving further investigation...

..We chose to examine sucrose, cola drink, honey, human milk, cow milk, and water because some of these have been associated with development of early childhood caries, although direct experimental evidence is lacking...

..Although significant progress has been made in our understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of dental caries, it still remains a scientific and clinical enigma worthy of the attention of the best scientists...

..Where feasible, these records should form part of health history and be available to the treating dental practitioner to ensure that extra preventive procedures may be implemented...

..The incidence of smooth-surface caries was significantly reduced by apigenin +tt-farnesol (60%), fluoride (70%), and chlorhexidine (72%) treatments compared to control (P < 0.05)...

..The results showed a combination of benzoate and fluoride reduced caries activity more effectively in rodents fed a cariogenic diet ad libitum than fluoride alone (p = 0.038)...

..The aim of this study was to examine the influence of starch and sucrose, alone or in combinations, on formation, polysaccharide composition, gene expression, and acidogenicity of Streptococcus mutans biofilms...

..To harness the protective effect of fluoride while limiting the occurrence of fluorosis, dental researchers have recommended that the fluoride level in chinking water be 1 part per million or less...

..Therefore, the interaction of lysozyme and GtfB enzymes on HA surface may modulate the formation of glucan and dental plaque...

..The flavonols are comprised of mostly quercetin glycosides, and the PAC are largely A-type oligomers of epicatechin. Our data show that proanthocyanidins and flavonols are the active constituents of cranberry against S. mutans...

..The data show that apigenin modulates the genetic expression of virulence factors in S. mutans...

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..These data show that chronic administration of clonidine significantly decreases submandibular gland weight and increases susceptibility to dental caries...

..Based on our results and other reports of litter effects, we recommend planning for litter effects in the design and analysis of rat caries studies...

..These data indicate that the nature of the inhibitor is important, and also whether the Gtf enzyme is in solution or adsorbed to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite...

..These results show that the GtfSs of S. sanguis is active on sHA beads, that the pH optimum for activity on a surface differs slightly from that in solution, and that its product glucan can support the adherence of oral microorganisms...

..05). Our data show that cranberry juice inhibited glucan-mediated biofilm development and acid production, and holds promise as a natural product to prevent biofilm-related oral diseases...

..Results indicate that caries susceptibility increases with a reduced salivary flow that is associated with decreased water content of saliva...

..Results from these studies showed that apigenin and tt-farnesol may enhance the cariostatic effectiveness of fluoride...

..These data suggest that milk and kappa-casein may influence pellicle formation in vivo...

..It is apparent that this in situ model could be used in screening potential antiplaque agents...

..We investigated the influence of apigenin and tt-farnesol, alone and in combination, on the accumulation, polysaccharide composition and viability of S. mutans UA159 biofilms...

..Recent evidence shows that salivary gland function is impaired by iron deficiency and by prenatal exposure to lead. Clearly, early childhood caries is a complex disease that requires careful and extensive investigation...

..The results have implications for the formation and properties of biofilms formed in other environments...

..These observations may have important clinical implications, may lead to development of a chair side caries activity test and support the importance of GtfB in the pathogenesis of dental caries...

..Several of the compounds identified in propolis inhibit GTF activities and bacterial growth. Apigenin is a novel and potent inhibitor of GTF activity, and tt-farnesol was found to be an effective antibacterial agent...

..The data suggest that the putative cariostatic compounds of propolis type-3 and -12 are mostly non-polar; and H-fr should be the fraction of choice for identifying further potentially novel anti-caries agents...

..Our data have relevance for the formation of polysaccharide matrix of other biofilms...

..Such information may make it possible to design molecules which will compete with S. mutans and certain actinomyces for sites on glucan-coated pellicle. ..

..Our eventual goal (in a future application) is to determine caries risk well before the onset of lesions and to identify those who are caries active short of cavitation or even white spot formation. ..