B.C.G. DEXTROSE AGAR (SNYDER TEST AGAR)

Description

Dental caries results from microbial acid and plaque formation. Plaque sets the stage for caries because it collects the acid forming bacteria on the tooth surface, supplies an anaerobic environment for fermentation, traps the acids and excludes the protective saliva. Caries lesions are basically the outcome of chemical attack on the enamel and dentin. Demineralization of the tooth alternates with periods of re-mineralization. If demineralization exceeds re-mineralization, a subsurface carious lesion becomes a clinical cavity with extension of the decay into the dentine. For determining the rate and amount of acid produced by microorganisms in saliva, Snyder described a colorimetric method. The procedure makes use of an agar medium that is known as Snyder Test Agar. Later on Alban modified the procedure and reported it to be more accurate than the original procedure.