Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 62, Issue 2, March–April 2017, Pages 105-106
Dental Abstracts

Inquiry
Effects on periodontal and caries status

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2016.07.057Get rights and content

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Background

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can confer a health benefit when given in adequate amounts. Some benefits are provided by a range of bacteria, most commonly lactobacilli, streptococci, and bifidobacteria. Oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis may benefit from probiotic administration, shifting the bacterial biofilm composition and activity and altering host responses. Often alterations in surrogate markers such as bacterial numbers have been used to indicate the

Methods

A search was conducted through the Medline, Embase, and Central databases. Fifty studies (3247 participants) met the criteria for inclusion. Most involved children and used lactobacilli (LB, 45 studies), bifidobacteria, or other bacteria. Most assessed bacterial numbers in probiotic and control groups directly after treatment or after a follow-up period.

Results

A significant increase in the chance of reducing Streptococcus mutans (SM) or LB were noted after probiotic therapy. Reduced SM counts were confirmed, but those for LB were not.

No reduction in periodontal pathogens exceeding those seen with placebo was noted. However, probiotics reduced bleeding on probing (BOP) and gingival index significantly, along with probing pocket depths (PDs). Plaque index did not show any significant reduction related to probiotic therapy, nor did caries incidence or

Discussion

Probiotics, especially bifidobacteria, were able to significantly reduce SM numbers, but increased the numbers of LB (but most of the probiotics were LB). Bacterial numbers have traditionally been used to act as a surrogate for caries. Although all of the studies reported nonsignificant beneficial effects on caries measures, the studies supporting this finding were prone to publication bias and carried limited validity. No evidence was sufficient to make a strong recommendation for or against

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Gruner D, Paris S, Schwendicke F: Probiotics for managing caries and periodontitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent 48:16-25, 2016

Reprints available from F Schwendicke, Dept of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, Aßmannshauser Str 4-6, 14197 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: [email protected]

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