title: PCR detection of Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus in dental plaque samples from Japanese pre-school children.
abstract: Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus are associated with the development of dental caries. These bacteria were detected by PCR and then their presence was compared with the incidence of dental caries in 77 Japanese pre-school children. Plaque samples were collected from all erupted tooth sites in the subjects, aged 3-5 years old and each with primary dentition, with a sterile toothbrush. A dental examination was performed for dmft (decayed, missing, filled, total) with the WHO caries diagnostic criteria. In all subjects, the prevalence of S. mutans and S. sobrinus was 72.8% and 61.1%, respectively; 19 (24.7%) were positive for S. mutans alone, 10 (13.0%) were positive for S. sobrinus alone, 37 (48.1%) were positive for both S. mutans and S. sobrinus, and 11 (14.3%) were negative for both S. mutans and S. sobrinus. The dmft scores of children positive for both S. mutans and S. sobrinus were significantly higher than those positive for S. mutans alone. These results indicate that children harbouring both S. mutans and S. sobrinus have a significantly higher incidence of dental caries than those with S. mutans alone.
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Mitsugi
authors: M
authors: Okada
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Yoshiko
authors: Y
authors: Soda
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Fumiko
authors: F
authors: Hayashi
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Takako
authors: T
authors: Doi
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Suzuki
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Miura
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors: Katsuyuki
authors: K
authors: Kozai
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial