Influence of salivary levels of mutans streptococci on colonization of crown margins: a longitudinal study.

Initial colonization of mutans streptococci in 36 crown margins of 21 patients was studied. Before cementation, salivary concentrations of mutans streptococci and Lactobacillus sp, microorganisms associated with dental caries, were determined. Within 1 week 25% of the selected crown margins in subjects with low salivary levels of mutans streptococci and 89% in subjects with high salivary levels were colonized. High salivary counts of lactobacilli seemed to reflect conditions that enhanced the risk of colonization of mutans streptococci. The results suggest that, before cementation of fixed prosthodontics, measures should be taken to control the salivary concentrations of these organisms to reduce the susceptibility to recurrent caries.