title: A molecular survey of S. mutans and P. gingivalis oral microbial burden in human saliva using relative endpoint polymerase chain reaction (RE-PCR) within the population of a Nevada dental school revealed disparities among minorities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine recently opened an orthodontic treatment clinic to address the needs of the racially and ethnically diverse population of Southern Nevada, primarily focusing on the treatment and care of low-income and minority patients. Although orthodontic treatment and therapy has been shown to induce changes in the oral cavity, much of this evidence was collected from traditional White, teenage orthodontic clinic populations. The primary goal of this study was to describe the microbial burden of the cariogenic and periodontal pathogens, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis within the UNLV-SDM patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representative saliva samples were collected from healthy adult patients for DNA isolation. Relative endpoint polymerase chain reaction (RE-PCR) was performed to ascertain the presence and relative microbial burden of these oral pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly one quarter (13/56) or 23.3% of these patients had elevated levels of S. mutans, while (10/56) and 17.8% of these samples were found to have elevated levels of P. gingivalis, - with (90%) of P. gingivalis-positive samples from minority patients (X2=17.921, d.f. = 1; p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings of elevated P. gingivalis levels, primarily among minority patients, may suggest underlying oral health practices contributing to adverse oral health conditions within this population. Oral health knowledge and practices among minority patients may be strongly influenced by other factors, including education and socioeconomic status, suggesting additional research may be needed to accurately determine the most appropriate standards for care and oral health education within this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Residency Program, School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Jay Ericksen
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freel
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Findley
authors.forename: Keaton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomlin
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Clifford C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Seran
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kingsley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002452:Cell Count; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009505:Nevada; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011203:Poverty; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult