STREPTOCOCCUS DENTISANI AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES IN PERUVIAN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the association between Streptococcus dentisani in dental plaque samples and early childhood caries (ECC) in Peruvian preschoolers from a peri-urban community in Lima, Peru. Material and methods: 204 children aged 3 to 5 years participated in a cross-sectional study; and their dental plaque samples were collected. ECC was assessed using the ICDAS II index. Information was collected on cariogenic diet, oral hygiene habits, and salivary pH as confounders. S. dentisani and S. mutans concentrations were determined in the dental plaque samples by realtime polymerase chain reaction. Bivariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for confounding variables were applied using STATA version 17. Results: Mean concentration of S. dentisani in dental plaque in children without ECC was 6.62 x 103 CFU/ng DNA compared to 4.40 x 103 CFU/ng DNA in children with ECC (p<0.05). Whereas concentration of S. mutans in dental plaque in children with ECC was 8.82 x 109CFU/ng DNA, and in children without ECC was 4.40 x 103CFU/ng DNA (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, adjusted for confounding variables, mean S. dentisani concentration in children with ECC was 0.52 log10 CFU/ng DNA lower than in children without ECC, 95% CI [-1.00 to -0.03]. Similarly, mean S. dentisani concentration in children consuming fermentable carbohydrates 1 or 2 times a day was found to be 0.65 log10 CFU/ng DNA lower than in children not consuming these foods, 95% CI [ -1.13 to -0.16]. Conclusion: Streptococcus dentisani is negatively associated with ECC among children aged 3 to 5 years, suggesting it could be a protective factor against it.