Application of adenosine triphosphate-driven bioluminescence for quantification of plaque bacteria and assessment of oral hygiene in children

Shahram Fazilat, Rebecca Sauerwein, Jennifer McLeod, Tyler Finlayson, Emilia Adam, John Engle, Prashant Gagneja, Tom Maier, Curtis A. Machida

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Dentistry has undergone a shift in caries management toward prevention and improved oral hygiene and diagnosis. Caries prevention now represents one of the most important aspects of modern dental practice. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to demonstrate the use of adenosine triphosphate- (ATP-) driven bioluminescence as an innovative tool for the rapid chairside enumeration of oral bacteria (including plaque streptococci) and assessment of oral hygiene and caries risk. Methods: Thirty-three pediatric patients (7- to 12-year-old males and females) were examined, and plaque specimens, in addition to stimulated saliva, were collected from representative teeth within each quadrant. Oral specimens (n=150 specimens) were assessed by plating on enriched and selective agars, to enumerate total bacteria and streptococci, and subjected to adenosine triphosphate- (ATP-) driven bioluminescence determinations using a luciferase-based assay system. Results: Statistical correlations, linking ATP values to numbers of total bacteria, oral streptococci and mutans streptococci, yielded highly significant r values of 0.854, 0.840, and 0.796, respectively. Conclusions: Our clinical data is consistent with the hypothesis that ATP measurements have a strong statistical association with bacterial number in plaque and saliva specimens, including numbers for oral streptococci, and may be used as a potential assessment tool for oral hygiene ana caries risk in children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)195-204
Number of pages10
JournalPediatric dentistry
Volume32
Issue number3
StatePublished - May 2010

Keywords

  • ATP-driven bioluminescence
  • Caries risk assessment
  • Oral hygiene
  • Pediatric patients
  • Plaque bacteria

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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