title: Comparison between Clinical Aspects and Salivary Microbial Profile of Children with and without Early Childhood Caries: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical aspects and microbial profile of children with and without early childhood caries (ECC).
  
  
  METHODS
  14 patients (7 without caries and 7 with ECC) were submitted to anamnesis, clinical exam and saliva collection for microbiological analyses. Counts of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp. Candida spp., and total microorganisms were performed by culture methods. Microbial diversity was characterized by PCR-DGGE. Demographic/clinical data and salivary microbial counts were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Habits of hygiene and breastfeeding presented no association with ECC. Use of pacifiers was associated with absence of caries (p=0.035). Counts of total microorganisms and Candida spp. did not differ between the groups. The ECC group presented larger quantity of S. mutans (p=0.026) and Lactobacillus spp. (p=0.002). There was no correlation between microorganisms and breastfeeding and pacifier use. The dmf-t of ECC Group was 10.5 ± 1.9 and the modified dmf-t was 11.3 ± 3.6. The DGGE demonstrated difference in the pattern of bands between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pacifiers usage was associated with the absence of ECC and microorganism number was higher in the caries group. The PCR-DGGE revealed a characteristic microbial diversity in the ECC Group, being an excellent tool for observing the dynamics of the salivary microbial community in these patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Mep
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Requejo
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: From the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Antonio
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D041361:Pacifiers; D010808:Physical Examination; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Early childhood caries; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Preschool children; Salivary microbes