Caries experience and streptococci and lactobacilli salivary levels in 6-8-year-old Sardinians.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to compare clinical data regarding oral status (DMFT/DMFS indices) and streptococci or lactobacilli counts in stimulated whole saliva in two groups of children, aged 6 and 8 years.


METHODS
Seventy-nine boys and 93 girls aged 6 (84 subjects) and 8 (88 subjects) years old were selected. DMFT/dmft, DMFS/dmfs and OHI-S indices were recorded. Mutans streptococci (Sm) and lactobacilli (Lb) salivary levels were assessed using commercially available strip tests and were rated from 0 to 3 and from 0 to 4 in the group as a whole.


RESULTS
Mean dmfs was 9.06 +/- 10.80, made up of ds = 7.28 +/- 9.54, fs = 1.19 +/- 3.64 and ms = 0.59 +/- 3.47. Mean DMFS was 0.73 +/- 1.91, made of DS = 0.54 +/- 1.29, FS = 0.08 +/- 0.56 and MS = 0.11 +/- 0.56. Statistically significant differences were found for both Sm and Lb scores between those with and without caries in the primary teeth (P < 0.05). The different Lb scores were also significant in relation to caries in permanent teeth in older children.


CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of children had some caries experience, and were in need of treatment.
Campus
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G
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C I-07100, Sassari, Italy. gcampus@ssmain.uniss.it
Lumbau
A
A
Bachisio
S L
SL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D011934:Reagent Strips; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000382:microbiology
D011934:Reagent Strips