Evaluation Of Cariogenic Potential Of Streptococcus Mutans (Serotype C) Isolates Of The Elderly People With Caries

Dental caries is a bacterial infectious disease involving multiple factors in which streptococcus mutans plays a major role. The prevalence of dental caries is obviously different for the ages. Among the elderly people, dental caries is the most common oral diseases.The virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans are involved in acidogenicity,acidodurance and adherence. Its acidogenicity and acidodurance are the direct causes of dental caries. The adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to the tooth surface is an essential step in the development of dental caries. S.mutans can produce water-insoluble glucans to enhance their attachment to the tooth surfaces. On the other hand, water-solublue glucans are produced as energy reserver. Because of their poor immune response and lower saliva secretion rate, the elderly people are prone to get dental caries. Being an aged society with the elderly population increasing by three percent annually, it is very important for our country to prevent tooth decay in aged people. However, the information of epidemiology and genetic aspects of the cariogenic characteristic features of S.mutans in the elderly is not sufficient.