IADR Abstract Archives
Streptococcus Mutans Genotypes And Saliva Buffering Capacity In Childhood Caries.
Objectives: Dental caries is the most common infectious disease in children, affecting their oral and overall health. Streptococcus mutans (Sm) is the key bacterial species responsible for caries due to the ability to induce and survive a low pH environment. Saliva buffering capacity is an important countermeasure to control bacteria acid production, and plays a very crucial role in controlling the equilibrium between remineralization and demineralization in a cariogenic environment. However, the relationship between Sm genetic diversity, saliva buffering capacity, and caries progression is still controversial. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the genetic diversity of Sm strains isolated from saliva of carious and non-carious children, and to explore their relationship with saliva buffering capacity in association with caries experience.
Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from 30 children (ages 2-6 years old) to assess caries experience (dmft), saliva flow ratio and buffering capacity, Sm levels and isolated strains genotype diversity. Sm levels were quantified using a culture-based method, and various Sm strains were isolated from carious and non-carious subjects. DNA was extracted from these clinical strains and arbitrary-primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was performed to evaluate their genetic diversity.
Results: The dmft score and saliva Sm levels were significantly different between caries and non-caries subjects. Correlational analyses were used to examine the relationship between saliva flow ratio, initial pH, buffering capacity, caries status, Sm levels, and genotypes of isolated Sm strains. Spearman’s rank-order correlation revealed a positive relationship between the initial pH and saliva buffering capacity. Similar positive correlation was observed between Sm levels with caries status and dmft scores.
The caries and caries-free groups contained distinct predominant Sm genotypes.
Conclusions: In this limited pilot study, though there exists a distinct predominant Sm genotypes in caries and caries-free groups, there was no correlation between Sm genotypes and saliva buffering capacity.
Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from 30 children (ages 2-6 years old) to assess caries experience (dmft), saliva flow ratio and buffering capacity, Sm levels and isolated strains genotype diversity. Sm levels were quantified using a culture-based method, and various Sm strains were isolated from carious and non-carious subjects. DNA was extracted from these clinical strains and arbitrary-primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was performed to evaluate their genetic diversity.
Results: The dmft score and saliva Sm levels were significantly different between caries and non-caries subjects. Correlational analyses were used to examine the relationship between saliva flow ratio, initial pH, buffering capacity, caries status, Sm levels, and genotypes of isolated Sm strains. Spearman’s rank-order correlation revealed a positive relationship between the initial pH and saliva buffering capacity. Similar positive correlation was observed between Sm levels with caries status and dmft scores.
The caries and caries-free groups contained distinct predominant Sm genotypes.
Conclusions: In this limited pilot study, though there exists a distinct predominant Sm genotypes in caries and caries-free groups, there was no correlation between Sm genotypes and saliva buffering capacity.
