[Correlation between Streptococcus mutans level in saliva and caries status in children].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution pattern of salivary Streptococcus mutans (Sm) level in children and its association with caries status.


METHODS
Three hundred and sixty-five 11- 12-year-old children participated in this study. Scores of decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) for the permanent dentition were recorded. Salivary Sm concentrations were determined by species-specific monoclonal antibodies.


RESULTS
Caries-affected children harbored more Sm in saliva [5.53 (1.50, 18.00) x 10(7)/L] than their caries-free counterparts [3.42 (1.60, 8.10) x 10(7)/L] (P = 0.002). Salivary Sm concentration tended to rise with the increase of DMFT score. Spearman's correlation coefficient for Sm concentration was 0.136 (P = 0.010). When salivary Sm concentration reached 8.64 x 10(7)/L, children's caries experience doubled.


CONCLUSIONS
Salivary Sm level has a skewed distribution among the children studied and associates positively with caries presence. Determination of salivary Sm levels could be used to predict children's caries status.
Hong
Xiao
X
Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Hu
De-yu
DY
D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*