title: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus colonization and caries experience in 3- and 5-year-old Thai children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the colonization of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in supra-gingival plaque samples and to determine their correlation with the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in Thai children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 344 Thai children, ages 3 and 5 years, were invited to participate in this study. Caries status of the children was examined. Supra-gingival plaque samples were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to evaluate DNA levels of S. mutans and S. sobrinus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five percent of the children were colonized by S. mutans and 50.9% of them were colonized by S. sobrinus. The prevalence of ECC was 43.8% and 56.2% among 3- and 5-year-old children, respectively, and was significantly associated with the presence of S. mutans and S. sobrinus. The severity of ECC was significantly correlated with increased DNA levels of the two bacteria. Children who were positive for S. mutans and S. sobrinus (Sm+/Sb+) were 8 times or 44 times more likely to experience ECC than children who were Sm-/Sb + or were Sm-/Sb-.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study evidence further suggest that children colonized by both S. mutans and S. sobrinus are at the higher risk for ECC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Molecular-based qPCR can be used to detect and quantify S. mutans and S. sobrinus colonization for epidemiological and clinical studies for ECC risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010-4086, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saraithong
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pattanaporn
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010-4086, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khongkhunthian
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Health Promoting Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laohapensang
authors.affiliation: New York University College of Nursing Global, 726 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chhun
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Health Promoting Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pattanaporn
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010-4086, USA.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010-4086, USA. yl18@nyu.edu.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Caries risk; Early childhood caries; Epidemiology; Mutans streptococci; Preschool children; Quantitative real-time PCR