Caries-related factors and bacterial composition of supragingival plaques in caries free and caries active Algerian adults

Objective: To compare oral hygiene practices, education and social background, food intake and oral malodor of Algerian adults suffering from dental caries with normal controls, and to determine and compare the bacterial composition of the supragingival plaques from the above-mentioned groups. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and were clinically examined for dental caries using decayed, missing and filled teeth index according to the criteria laid down by the World Health Organization. Supragingival plaque samples were collected from 50 caries-free adults (CF) and 50 caries-active adults (CA). Standard procedures of culture and identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were used. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: A total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from supragingival plaques in CF group subjects, 76 (64.96%) of them belonged to 9 aerobic genera, and 41 (35.04%) to 9 anaerobic genera (P