title: Prevalence of mutans streptococci and dental caries in Pakistani children.
abstract: The caries status of two hundred and eighteen 12 year old school children from four schools of Karachi and Lahore was determined through a WHO pathfinder survey. In addition, the levels of mutans streptococci in the sample were estimated in order to define the proportion of children with high and low mutans levels. A mean DMFT of 1.82 (1.67-0.03-0.12), for decayed and filled teeth respectively; 42% were caries free. Four mutans streptococci; 22% had mutans class 0, 22% class 1, 31% class 2 and 25% class 3. The mean DMFT was respectively, 1.0 + 1.23, 0.98 + 1.52, 2.03 + 2.36 and 3.04 + 3.08. The difference was statistically significant. Twenty four children had 5 or more DMF all except two of them, belonging to mutans classes 2 or 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimtoola
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bratthall
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*