Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Human Root Surface Carious Lesions

Abstract

Carious lesions in the root surfaces of extracted human teeth were sampled qualitatively for the presence of bacterial forms. Streptococcus mutans was a predominant organism from this lesion. The filamentous organisms appeared typical of the genus Actinomyces. Bacterial strains from the advancing front of the lesions were aerobic gram-positive diphtheroids, with the key characteristics of the genus Arthrobacter.