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. 2012 Mar-Apr;34(2):e16-23.

Aciduric microbiota and mutans streptococci in severe and recurrent severe early childhood caries

Christopher V Hughes  1 , Mohammed Dahlan, Eleftheria Papadopolou, Cheen Y Loo, Nooruddin S Pradhan, Shulin C Lu, Jennifer M J Mathney, Alexandra Bravoco, Ralph L Kent Jr, Anne C R Tanner
Affiliations

Aciduric microbiota and mutans streptococci in severe and recurrent severe early childhood caries

Christopher V Hughes et al. Pediatr Dent. 2012 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environment. The purpose of this study was to determine Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and acid-tolerant counts in severe early childhood caries.

Methods: Two- to 6-year-olds with severe-ECC (N=77) or who were caries-free (N=40) were examined. Plaque samples from teeth and the tongue were cultured anaerobically on blood, acid, and S. mutans selective agars. Severe-ECC children were monitored post-treatment for recurrent caries.

Results: Severe-ECC and caries-free children were balanced by household income and education level. Carious lesions were observed in 75% maxillary incisors and >80% molars in severe-ECC. At baseline, S. mutans, and S. sobrinus counts and proportions of S mutans were higher in severe-ECC than caries-free children. Acid and blood counts were elevated only in anterior samples of severe-ECC children. Baseline counts of S. sobrinus, but not S. mutans, were higher in children with recurrent compared with no recurrent caries. S. mutans counts were lower following treatment than pretreatment, particularly for children without caries recurrence. Other counts did not differ between before and after therapy.

Conclusions: Severe and recurrent early childhood caries was better explained by mutans streptococci than the aciduric microbiota. Streptococcus mutans did not predict children with recurrent caries.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Teeth with carious lesions at white spot level (d1) or above in S-ECC children
Figure 2
Figure 2. Extent of carious lesions by tooth type coded by the most severe lesion of that tooth
Figure 3
Figure 3. Mean bacterial counts (±standard error of the mean (SEM)) at baseline from S. mutans selective, acid and blood agars
Note S. sobrinus counts are on a different scale than S. mutans.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Mean S. mutans (±SEM) as a percentage of acid and blood agar counts
S. mutans as a proportion of total and aciduric counts from all sampling sites were higher in severe-ECC than caries-free children.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Baseline S. mutans and S. sobrinus counts by final caries outcomes
Figure 6
Figure 6. S. mutans and S. sobrinus counts at baseline and final visits by final caries outcomes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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