Is there a vaccine for cavities?

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Dental caries is an irreversible, multifactorial opportunistic infection. The treatment is costly, making it a public health problem. Despite many years of promising laboratory research, animal studies and clinical trials, there is no commercially available vaccine today.

What is dental caries vaccine?

A caries vaccine is a vaccine to prevent and protect against tooth decay. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) has been identified as the major etiological agent of human dental caries. The development of a vaccine for tooth decay has been under investigation for more than 30 years.

How does a vaccine for caries work?

The recombinant vaccine expresses a major part of the functional domains. The genetically linked, 42 kDa salivary binding receptor (SBR) of S mutants, AgI\II, with the A2 and B subunits of cholera toxin, produced a chimeric protein, which on intranasal administration, reduced the dental caries in Fischer rats [12].

Is there a vaccine for Streptococcus mutans?

Although dental caries is a global problem in modern times, no vaccines are available for preventing these diseases. Among the bacterial pathogens that cause dental caries, including Streptococcus mutans, S.

What is the cause of dental caries?

Dental caries or cavities, more commonly known as tooth decay, are caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel. This breakdown is the result of bacteria on teeth that breakdown foods and produce acid that destroys tooth enamel and results in tooth decay.

Who is at risk for dental caries?

In the United States, cavities are common in very young children and teenagers. Older adults also are at higher risk. Over time, teeth can wear down and gums may recede, making teeth more vulnerable to root decay. Older adults also may use more medications that reduce saliva flow, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

How does Streptococcus cause dental caries?

Streptococcus mutans, which causes dental caries, splits the sucrose in food and uses one of the sugars to build its capsule, which sticks tightly to the tooth. The bacteria that are trapped in the capsule use the other sugar to fuel their metabolism and produce…