Screening of caries in children through salivary lactobacilli and yeasts.
The caries predictive value of salivary counts of lactobacilli and yeasts was evaluated in 298 children (from 6 to 11 yr of age) concurrently to a 3-yr xylitol field study in Hungary. On a group level the salivary yeasts and the combined information of lactobacilli and yeasts predicted the 3-yr caries increment acceptably. On an individual basis salivary yeasts had more power than salivary lactobacilli. At best the sensitivity and specificity of yeasts were 74% and 75%, and the combined information of lactobacilli and yeasts, 69% and 83%, respectively. Although the results were not that good in all subgroups of the study, they indicate the value of salivary yeasts in caries prediction either as a sole test or together with salivary lactobacilli.
D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D005459:Fluorides; D014993:Xylitol