title: Association between interdental plaque acidogenicity and caries risk at surface level: a cross sectional study in primary dentition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In schoolchildren the most commonly decayed primary teeth are molars affecting proximal adjacent surfaces especially.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a more acidic plaque in response to sucrose challenge is detected in children with more carious lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plaque pH measurements, using the microtouch technique, were carried out in interproximal spaces between primary molars, in 157 high caries risk children (314 sites and caries status of the 628 proximal surfaces recorded). The area under the curve (AUC(5.7) and AUC(6.2) ) was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AUC(5.7) and the AUC(6.2) showed a statistically significant difference between plaque adjacent to proximal surfaces with or without caries. Differences for AUC(5.7) and AUC(6.2) were recorded between one decayed surface compared to two decayed surfaces (P<0.01) whereas a statistical significant difference was only observed for AUC(5.7) , when the areas under the curve were obtained near one decayed surface compared to two sound surfaces (P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher acidogenicity of the dental plaque found in presence of a proximal carious lesion in primary maxillary molars represents an additional risk factor for the adjacent surface. This finding may help clinicians in treatment decisions.
authors: WHO Collaborating Centre of Milan for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Cagetti
authors: Guglielmo
authors: G
authors: Campus
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Sale
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Cocco
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Strohmenger
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lingström
mesh_terms: D019540:Area Under Curve; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility / Q000502:physiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D013395:Sucrose