IADR Abstract Archives
Comparison of Oral Bacterial Enumeration by ATP Tester and Culture
Objectives: Objectives: To compare oral bacteria enumeration by ATP testing (CariScreen meter) with traditional culture in children.
Methods: Eighty 6-17 year old children (63 caries-active and 17 caries-free) were recruited. Caries status was recorded using ICDAS system. CariScreen meter (CariFree-Oral BioTech, Albany, OR, USA) reading was collected from the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth per manufacturer’s instruction and the buccal surface of one mandibular molar. Stimulated saliva samples were collected for bacterial enumeration by selective culture for total oral streptococci, mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus, and total viable bacteria. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 for correlations of bacteria levels assessed by the Cariscreen meter and culture, as well as the specificity, sensitivity, false positive and false negative rates of cariogenic bacterial assessment by Cariscreen meter.
Results: CariScreen scores from anterior and posterior sites revealed a moderate correlation between them (Pearson Correlation Coefficient = 0.42, P<.001) but showed poor correlations with culture methods for enumeration on mutans streptococci, total oral streptococci, Lactobacilli, and total viable bacteria (Pearson Correlation coefficient as -0.17-0.03, P>.25 for anterior sites and 0.00-0.20, P>.08 for posterior sites). Anterior Cariscreen scores (as per manufacturer’s recommendation) showed moderate sensitivity but poor specificity with high false positive and considerable false negative rates for cariogenic bacteria identification using culture as a gold standard. There were no statistical significant differences of anterior Cariscreen scores between caries-free and caries-active subjects (Student t test, P=.25) while posterior Cariscreen scores was significantly lower in caries-free subjects (P=.01).
Conclusions: Conclusion: CariScreen meter results were not statistically significantly related to cariogenic bacteria levels nor total viable bacteria levels assessed by traditional culture methods.
Methods: Eighty 6-17 year old children (63 caries-active and 17 caries-free) were recruited. Caries status was recorded using ICDAS system. CariScreen meter (CariFree-Oral BioTech, Albany, OR, USA) reading was collected from the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth per manufacturer’s instruction and the buccal surface of one mandibular molar. Stimulated saliva samples were collected for bacterial enumeration by selective culture for total oral streptococci, mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus, and total viable bacteria. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 for correlations of bacteria levels assessed by the Cariscreen meter and culture, as well as the specificity, sensitivity, false positive and false negative rates of cariogenic bacterial assessment by Cariscreen meter.
Results: CariScreen scores from anterior and posterior sites revealed a moderate correlation between them (Pearson Correlation Coefficient = 0.42, P<.001) but showed poor correlations with culture methods for enumeration on mutans streptococci, total oral streptococci, Lactobacilli, and total viable bacteria (Pearson Correlation coefficient as -0.17-0.03, P>.25 for anterior sites and 0.00-0.20, P>.08 for posterior sites). Anterior Cariscreen scores (as per manufacturer’s recommendation) showed moderate sensitivity but poor specificity with high false positive and considerable false negative rates for cariogenic bacteria identification using culture as a gold standard. There were no statistical significant differences of anterior Cariscreen scores between caries-free and caries-active subjects (Student t test, P=.25) while posterior Cariscreen scores was significantly lower in caries-free subjects (P=.01).
Conclusions: Conclusion: CariScreen meter results were not statistically significantly related to cariogenic bacteria levels nor total viable bacteria levels assessed by traditional culture methods.