VARIATIONS IN THE INITIAL FORMATION OF PELLICLE AND PLAQUE ON ENAMEL INVIVO

Four subjects wore acrylic baseplates with small pieces of enamel from unerupted teeth for periods of 24 and 48 hours. The rate of colonization of the pellicle with bacteria varied among the subjects in 2 of whom bacteria were not seen on the surface at 24 hours. Etching the enamel did not enhance the rate of colonization. Chlorhexidine treatment did not prevent bacterial adherence after 2 days, but etched enamel retained the antibacterial effect of chlorhexidine longer than normal enamel. © 1979.