title: Discriminant ability for caries risk of modified colorimetric tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the caries risk in children over a two-year period and their baseline caries status, salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, and results of the Alban test and modifications thereof using different substrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five children aged 6-7 were examined in Granada (southern Spain) for dental caries at baseline and every six months. Stimulated saliva was sampled and inoculated in 7 colorimetric tests based on Snyder's medium with different sugars and polyalcohols. A mutans streptococci and lactobacilli count was performed (Dentocult SM strip® and Dentocult LB®). Caries risk proportions were contrasted against the potential predictor variables, i.e., basal caries history and salivary tests, by means of the Mantel Haenszel test for linear association, based on a chi-square distribution with 1 degree of freedom (df).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caries index, lactobacillus count and colorimetric tests showed significant, but limited, and non-different discriminant abilities. Increasing values of all predictor variables, except for Dentocult SM®, were related to increasing caries risk proportions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colorimetric test results and caries history showed similar correlation values as caries predictors.
authors: Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. pbaca@ugr.es
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Baca
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Parejo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bravo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castillo
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Liébana
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003124:Colorimetry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods