FIG 1.

Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of DNA isolated from plaque from seven root caries patients (n = 6 to 8). Five of seven teeth with increased S. mutans levels relative to their contralateral controls had caries. Three of four teeth with increased Actinomyces levels relative to their contralateral controls had caries. In general, Lactobacillus levels on all teeth were low, but in two cases, increased Lactobacillus casei levels correlated with caries. (A) Analysis of three species by tooth pair (carious and noncarious). (B and C) Analysis of S. mutans/sobrinus (B) or Actinomyces naeslundii/viscosus (C) by combining colonization levels of all carious or healthy teeth per patient. *, P ≤ 0.05 by Student’s t test (A) or Mann-Whitney test for multiple teeth per patient (B and C). Tooth numbers are shown in panel A. Tooth surfaces are represented as follows: D, distal; M, mesial; B, buccal; and F, facial.