• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2013

Recently, there have been improvements in diagnostic methods for the assessment of early caries lesions. The reason is that dental professionals are seeking methods to reliably detect incipient dental caries and to remineralize them. This review examines the literature on principles, theoretical background, and history of the Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) system (Inspektor Research Systems BV, The Netherlands). Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential application of QLF system to clinical practice for educational purpose, enabling dental hygiene students to perform oral health assessment using the QLF system. In addition, the clinical application of QLF system can motivate patients by providing additional visual information about caries and bacterial activity. The evidences on validity and reliability of the QLF system for detection of longitudinal changes in de/remineralization and caries were examined. The QLF system is capable of monitoring and quantifying mineral changes in early caries lesions. Therefore, it can be used to assess the impacts of caries preventive measures on the remineralization and reversal of the caries process. And the QLF system is a very promising equipment to assess educational effectiveness for dental hygiene students in their learning process. In conclusion, the QLF system is the most effective technology for more sensitive staging of caries and treatment without surgical intervention.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.691-703
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• 1998

Saliva is obviously potential medium to protect the dental caries by not only physical clearing effect, but aggregating action of protein with bacteria. Nevertheless, we still do not understand how the dental caries occur and what brings the individual difference in caries prevalence. In the regards of dental caries prevalence, we hypothesized that the composition of salivary protein might be different from caries susceptible group to caries resistant group. The purposes of this experiment were focused on the molecular analysis of salivary proteins from the subjects who were involved in multiple caries. Electrophoretic analysis was done on the whole saliva collected from the children with and without multiple caries. We found 86.2% of subjects with multiple caries has approximately 120 KDa protein band while 30.4% in the healthy subjects. And the concentration of the total protein on the subjects with multiple caries is significantly higher than that of the healthy group. However, it turned out that the difference of the salivary composition does not affect the bacterial adhesion to hydroxyapatite bead. With regards of enzymes in saliva, the activity of ${\alpha}-amylase$ and lactate dehydrogenase does not have any significant difference between both groups. However, the concentrations of $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ in saliva from multiple caries group is higher than that of the control group. Taken all together, it may be concluded that 120 KDa protein in saliva may be associated with the process of dental caries, also the high concentration of protein and $Na^+,\;Cl^-$ in saliva may be linked to dental caries development as a cofactors.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent human diseases worldwide. The disease initiates with bacterial adherence to the tooth surface followed by the formation of dental plaques. Mutans streptococci and Candida albicans are principal oral microorganisms involved in the initiation and development of dental caries. Phytochemicals have been shown to possess promising antimicrobial properties against a wide range of microorganisms and can be used for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Herein, we reviewed literature on plants that are traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties or possess promising anticariogenic activity. We selected aerial parts of Scrophularia striata (S. striata) and galls of Quercus infectoria (Q. infectoria) and investigated their antimicrobial activity against cariogenic microorganisms. Methods: Water soluble fractions were obtained from hydroalcoholic extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria and their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) was evaluated separately and in combination. The extracts were then used for preparing an herbal mouthwash whose stability and tannic acid content were evaluated over 60 days. Results: Q. infectoria gall extract possesses efficient antimicrobial activity that was synergistically enhanced in the presence of S. striata extract. Mouthwash prepared using these extracts showed desirable organoleptic characteristics, antimicrobial activity, and stability. Conclusion: Extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria galls can be used together for preparing dental products with effective anticariogenic properties. Our study highlights the importance of extensive pharmacological investigations when using herbal products alone or in combination with other chemical substances.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

This study was conducted to find antibacterial agent against growth of dental caries bacteria. St. mutans KDJ-50 from various medicinal plants of which safety was indetified. Medicinal plants used in this study was dried and grinded after purchased at Daegu yakryung sijang and Kyungsan jungang sijang. Medicinal plants extracted with 80% ethanol at boiling point for 3 hrs was used as antibacterial agent after freeze dried. This study was conducted to find antibacterial agent against growth of dental caries bacteria. St. mutans KDJ-50 from 32 medicinal plants of which safety was indetified. The result of using paper disc method. Caryophylli Flos. Coptidis Rhizoma. Phellodendri Cortex. Schizamdrae Fructs. Myristicae Semen, Crataegi Fructus and Acori Graminei Rhizoma was selected as antibacterial agent. The result of viable cell counting method. the antibacterial activity of Caryophylli Flos was highest among tested 7 medicinal plants followed by Phellodendri Cortex and Coptidis Rhizoma. The extinction effect of the St. mutans by Caryophylli Flos was shown with the addition of 0.5 (w/v) in the medium. The high antibacterial activity was acquired at high extraction temperature and long extraction temperature. The antibacterial activity of Caryophylli Flos was not effected by the concentration of ethanol.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.465-472
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• 2010

This study surveyed salivary flow rate, salivary viscosity, and salivary buffering capacity in order to intensively analyze salivary factors among factors of occurrence in dental caries for finding mutually different factors that function in occurrence of dental caries depending on each individual. Even the acid body within dental plaque has great influence upon dental caries. Thus, the comparative analysis was carried out by surveying the hydrogen ion concentration in dental plaque. The following results were obtained in this study. 1. The average decayed teeth in the survey subjects stood at 1.67 piece. The extracted teeth caused by dental caries stood at 0.47 piece. The filled teeth were indicated to be 6.31 pieces. Accordingly, the average permanent dental caries experience teeth were surveyed to be 8.44 pieces. 2. The results according to dental caries activity test method were indicated to be $12.56{\pm}4.15ml$ for the average stimulated salivary flow rate, $3.89{\pm}1.83ml$ for non-stimulated salivary flow rate, $1.49{\pm}0.69$ for salivary viscosity, and $8.51{\pm}2.44$ for salivary buffering capacity. The hydrogen ion concentration test in dental plaque was indicated to be $5.62{\pm}0.50$ for before brushing teeth, $5.23{\pm}0.58$ for 5 minutes after brushing teeth, $5.25{\pm}0.56$ for 10 minutes after brushing teeth, $5.29{\pm}0.62$ for 15 minutes after brushing teeth, $5.34{\pm}0.58$ for 20 minutes after brushing teeth, $5.40{\pm}0.53$ for 25 minutes after brushing teeth, and $5.61{\pm}0.59$ for 30 minutes after brushing teeth. 3. Stimulated salivary and non-stimulated salivary flow rate, salivary viscosity, and salivary buffering capacity were indicated to be higher in group with non-caries than group with caries. However, it was statistically insignificant. The hydrogen ion concentration in dental plaque showed wholly statistical significant in the relationship with people with dental caries under progression. However, people without dental caries were indicated to be higher than people with dental caries. 4. As for correlation between caries activity test methods, the stimulated salivary flow rate had significantly positive correlation with non-stimulated salivary flow rate(p<0.001). Non-stimulated salivary flow rate showed negative correlation with salivary buffering capacity(p<0.01). The hydrogen ion concentration test in dental plaque showed positive correlation according to the passage of time after brushing teeth. However, there was no significant correlation with salivary viscosity and salivary buffering capacity(p>0.05).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 1991

Dental caries has been reported to be infectious disease by Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans). The ability of S. mutans to produce dental plaque has been shown to be related to glucan synthesis from sucrose by glucosyltransferase (GTase). Glucan is known to play an important role in the initiation of smooth surface caries. For preventing dental caries by traditional medicines, two hundred kinds of natural products were assayed for inhibiting activity against S. mutans and GTase. During the assay course, we chose some active plants against S. mutans and GTase and then applied these plant extracts to toothpaste.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.182-190
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• 2013

Composition of oral microbial flora is suggested to play a role in the maintenance of oral health. Among them, Streptococcus mutans plays an essential role in the formation of dental plaque and it is being noticed as incipient infective bacteria of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to prepare the basic data about distribution of Streptococcus mutans detected from saliva by measuring colony density. It is well known that smoking as well as drinking is a factor of dental caries, however there are few investigations about distribution of Streptococcus mutans either smoking or drinking. The materials of this study were collected from students of dentistry college with general characteristics obtained by self-administered questionnaires. Students were asked to gently chew the paraffin to get saliva for 1 minute. Bacitracin disc in the culture medium was activated for 15 minutes, and then sample was incubated in the activated medium at $37^{\circ}C$ incubator for 48 hours. Streptococcus mutans colonization per 1 ml saliva was measured by the number of criteria. The severe levels of dental caries activity were significantly increased in the case of smoking (from 5.6% to 10%) or drinking (form 0% to 7%), respectively. Also, dental caries activity increased according to smoking and drinking periods longer. However, using the SPSS analytical process (Mann-Whitney's U), no significant differences were observed between the smoking and the non-smoking or the drinking and non-drinking, respectively. These results obtained from dental caries activity of saliva suggest that distribution of Streptococcus mutans following smoking or drinking can be used as a significant information for oral health.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.421-429
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of syrup medication for asthmatic children on the salivary invertase activity and caries experience. 26 ashmatic children for the study group and 30 healthy children for the control group were selected, respectively. Caries experience was examined and salivary reductase activity was tested. The parents of asthmatic children were asked to fill in the questionaire about syrup intake period and home dental behavior, and the parents of healthy children were asked to fill in the same questionaire without syrup intake period. The results were as follows : 1. The ds index of asthmatic children were higher than that of healthy children(P < 0.05). 2. There was significant difference in dt index between the intake period of 'shorter than 10 months' and 'longer than 20 months'. The ds, dft and dfs indices had a tendency to increase as the intake period increased. 3. The salivary reductase activity had a tendency to increase as the intake period of syrup increased.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health care including some of dental caries activity test on dental clinics of regular visiting on primary school children. The dental surveys and initial caries control and some of dental caries activity test (Alban's, Lactobacillius, S'mutans, un-stimulation saliva test)were performed by trained dental hygienists with dentist from on 6 to 13 years old patients of S dental hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan Cities. The sample size of 39 children (18 in oral health care group, 21 in control group ) and accepted to their parents. The results of caries activity test score(Alban's and Lactobacillius test)were reduced 1.4 to 1.6 times in oral health care group(OHCG). Oral Hygiene Simplified Index of OHCG was reduced 1.6 times during six months and 1 year. DMFT index of OHCG was reduced 1.4 times more than Control Group(CG) after 1 year. DT index of OHCG was reduced 12 times more than Control Group(CG) after 1 year. Dental health capacity of the first perment molar of OHCG was reduced 1.02 times more than CG after 1 year. From the above results, long life related incremental oral health care system has reinforced to primary school children in dental clinic with oral health professional teams.