Mutans streptococci and caries prevalence in children after early maternal caries prevention: a follow-up at 19 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of early maternal caries prevention was evaluated. Furthermore, the difference between children colonised with mutans streptococci (MS) at an early or late stage with regard to the prevalence of carious lesions was determined.


METHODS
The children of first-time mothers selected on the basis of high salivary levels of MS for participation in a caries prevention programme were recalled at the age of 19 years. They were examined for salivary MS, lesion prevalence (decayed and filled surfaces, DFS) and MS in plaque from 12 selected proximal surfaces.


RESULTS
The recall rate was 70% for the children of both the high-control and interventional groups. All high-control children and 67% of the interventional children were colonised by MS. All the children with non-detectable MS in saliva were also negative in all plaque samples. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of DFS, although more interventional children were caries free than in the control group. Early-colonised children, irrespective of group identity, had higher salivary MS levels and DFS than later MS-colonised children.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that it is possible to remain negative for MS into adulthood if non-colonised at an early age and this affects the development of carious lesions. Strategies for the prevention of dental caries in early childhood should, therefore, include measures to prevent or delay early colonisation by cariogenic bacteria.
Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. kohler@odontologi.gu.se
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B
Köhler
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Andréen
D000367:Age Factors; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003376:Counseling; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D009035:Mothers; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D002710:Chlorhexidine