Salivary Mutans Streptococci and Caries Experience in Primary Schoolchildren.

KATAYAMA Tsuyoshi, SATOH Mitsuko, ITOH Keiko, OHTOMO Satsuki, SAWADA Teruko

doi:10.5834/jdh.44.211

Salivary levels of mutans streptococci in 104 3rd grade (8-year-old) and 94 6th grade (11-year-old) primary schoolchildren were determined by the “Strip mutans” test. The strip with adherent colonies was visually scored at four levels (classes 0-3), from low (class 0: <10⁴ CFU/ml saliva, class 1: 10⁴-10⁵ CFU/ml saliva) to very high (class 3: >10⁶ CFU/ml saliva) mutans counts (Jensen & Bratthall, 1989) according to the manufacturer's template. Caries status was examined by the criteria of WHO (WHO, 1987).<BR>We cross-sectionally analysed the possible relation between salivary levels of mutans streptococci and caries experience. The presence of mutans streptococci was demonstrated in 84% of 3rd grade and 73% of 6th grade schoolchildren and its proportional distribution with different levels of mutans streptococci was almost uniform. No statistical diference in the distribution was found between 3rd and 6th grade children.<BR>As mutans streptococcal levels increased, there was a trend toward increased caries experience in both 3rd and 6th grade children. In the 3rd grade, statistically higher dft (p<0.01) and DMFT (p<0.05) were found at a mutans streptococcal level of class 3 than at a lower concentration (class 0). This was probably due to the large number of untreated deciduous teeth. In the 6th grade, similar correlations were found between class 3 and class 0.<BR>These findings confirm that high numbers of mutans streptococci in saliva (class 3) indicate a high risk of caries.

Salivary Mutans Streptococci and Caries Experience in Primary Schoolchildren.

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