FACTORS INFLUENCING DENTAL CARIES '279 



disease. The demonstration of caries infectivitv in hamsters shows 

 investigators how to produce quasi gnotobiotes which can be used 

 for more refined experimental models to study some of the bio- 

 mechanisms involved. These observations raise the question whether 

 caries is a more specific t\'pe of bacterial infection than is usually 

 supposed. It certainly appears that all acidogenic organisms are not 

 equally cariogenic. Some lesions might follow the activity of organ- 

 isms which are adapted to use the tooth as a source of beneficial 

 substrate, especially when faced with high levels of carbohydrates 

 in their immediate environment. Further leads on diagnosis, causa- 

 tion, and control could conceivably follow research directed toward 

 the disclosure of other bacterial characteristics besides acid produc- 

 tion, e.g. the nature of the organic components of the cells, their 

 cell walls, and extracellular products. Fully effective caries control 

 can be achieved under laboratory conditions. Probably equally effec- 

 tive control can be attained in humans by comprehensive therapeutic 

 measures analogous to those used in the treatment of tuberculosis, 

 i.e. improvement in eating habits, increasing resistance of tissues 

 (enamel), chemotherapeutic depression of pathogenic organisms, 

 and necessary operative (surgical) procedures. 



Acknowledgment. Part of the text and several of the figures used in 

 this discussion formerly appeared in "Recent Advances in Dental Caries 

 Research. Bacteriology" (Keyes, 1962). These have been reprinted with 

 the kind permission of the International Dental Journal. 



References 



Belding, P. H., and Belding, L. J. 1943. Is caries acuta transmissible? /. 



Am.. Dental Assoc, 30, 713-717. 

 Bibby, B. G. 1961. Cariogenicity of foods. /. Am. Med. Assoc, 177, 316- 



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 Bibby, B. G. 1962. Caries prevention without fluorides. In Dental Clinics 



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 Brown, L. R., Wachtel, L. W., and Wheatcroft, M. G. 1962. Diffusion of 



niacin through extracted human teeth and its effect on bacterial 



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 Brudevold, F. 1962fl. Chemical composition of the teeth in relation to 



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