Gram Positive Bacteria

Question 1

what are the 5 major categories of gram positive bacteria?

Answer 1

staphylococci
streptococci
actinomyces
lactobcacillus
eubacterium

Question 2

what are the 2 most important groups of bacteria that cause dental caries?

Answer 2

1. streptococci

2. lactobacillus

Question 3

what are the properties of lactobacilli?

Answer 3

gram +ve 
pleomorphic rods
facultative
acidogenic and aciduric
poor adhesion properties

Question 4

what kind of fermentation can lactobacilli cause?

Answer 4

homolactic - only lactic acid produced

heterolactic - lactic/acetic/CO2

Question 5

in dentine caries the levels of lactobacilli correlate with what?

Answer 5

the level of carbohydrate intake

Question 6

lactobacilli numbers increase as?

Answer 6

strep numbers fall

Question 7

lactobacilli do not have an important role in demineralization but are important in what?

Answer 7

lesion progression once low pH established

Question 8

properties of actinomyces?

Answer 8

gram +ve pleomorphic rods
major proportion of microflora
arranged singly/in pairs/clumps
anaerobic or facultative anaerobes
some posses fimbrae for adherence and aggregation

Question 9

what do actinomyces have a strong association with?

Answer 9

root surface caries

Question 10

where is actinomyces naeslundii commonly found?

Answer 10

dental plaque in approximal and root surfaces