How to test for caries susceptibility

Caries susceptibility testing is mainly carried out by obtaining cariogenic bacteria from the tooth surface or saliva and culturing them, and determining the cariogenic bacteria’s acid-producing capacity, number, and colonization. Caries susceptibility testing is mainly a laboratory test, and the specific methods mainly include the determination of the acid-producing capacity of Aspergillus, lactobacillus counting, Aspergillus colony determination and other tests. 1. Acid-producing capacity of Aspergillus: Cariostat test. After using a standard cotton swab to wipe the plaque on the cheek of one side of the tooth, the swab is put into the culture tube for culture, and the color change of the culture liquid is observed and recorded, so as to determine the acid-producing ability. The higher the acid-producing capacity, the higher the risk of caries. 2. Aspergillus colonization test: DentocultSM test. After chewing a wax pill for about 1 minute, the subject applies an adhesive plate on the back of the tongue and then immediately places the plate into a culture tube to observe the density of blue Streptococcus mutans on the plate. The higher the density, the higher the risk of caries. Some of the more sensitive people may feel nausea and other discomfort during this process. 3. Lactobacillus counting test: DentocultLB test. After chewing the wax pill for about 1 minute, the saliva is collected and evenly poured onto the medium surface of the culture plate for cultivation to observe the density of Lactobacillus colonies attached on the culture plate. The higher the density, the higher the risk of caries. In addition, the buffering capacity of saliva can also affect caries susceptibility. Paying attention to oral hygiene, eating less sweets and supplementing nutrition in daily life can have a certain preventive effect on caries.