Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dentifrice containing shellac on the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the enamel surface of the human tooth.
Each enamel surface was polished with dentifrice containing 0.5% or 1% shellac, dentifrice without shellac, and with water (control). After polishing, each enamel specimen was placed into culture medium with S. mutans for 72 hours. Adherence of S. mutans to the enamel surface was assessed by scanning electron microscopy.
Masses of S. mutans were observed on the enamel surfaces polished with water. When the enamel surfaces were polished with the dentifrice that did not contain shellac, only a few S. mutans were observed on the enamel surface. In contrast, almost no S. mutans were observed on the enamel surfaces polished with dentifrice containing 0.5% or 1% shellac.
These results suggest that dentifrice not containing shellac inhibit the adherence of S. mutans to the enamel surface and that dentifrices containing 0.5% or 1% shellac strongly inhibit the adherence of S. mutans to the enamel surface.
