Resumen

FIGUEROA-GORDON, M; ACEVEDO, AM  y  ALONSO, Guillermina. Microorganismos presentes en las diferentes etapas de la progresión de la  lesión de Caries dental. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2009, vol.47, n.1, pp.227-240. ISSN 0001-6365.

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, where the microorganisms as a main ethological factor are organized in a biofilm called Dental Plaque. This constitutes the main factor in the development of the carious lesion, which clinically is seen as a white spot and may progresses to develop a cavity with dentine exposed to oral cavity. At each stage of progression different microbial species lead as a result of a bacterial succession. In the case of caries free subjects, the presence of bacterial species other than those associated with the disease, such as S. sanguinis, had been observed. Whereas, at the onset and progression of the lesion species belong to the Mutans Streptococci group, especially Streptococcus mutans, are the main micoorganisms. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium dominate in the advanced stages of the disease.

Palabras clave : caries; white spot; Streptococcus mutans; Lactobacillus; Actinomyces; Bifidobacterium.