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Caries-associated micro-organisms in infants from different socio-economic backgrounds in Scotland
- Source :
- Journal of dentistry. 28(5)
- Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Objectives: The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the frequency of isolation of mutans streptococci, (Streptococcus mutans, Steptococcus sobrinus), lactobacilli and yeasts (caries-associated micro-organisms) in the saliva of 1-year-old infants with and without dental caries; and (2) to determine if socio-economic background influenced the frequency isolation of bacteria and caries status. Methods: 1393 1-year-old consented infants, who comprised 70.3% of children born in Dundee during a 1 year period, had saliva samples taken (tongue-loop method) for microbiological culture and were examined for dental caries (d1-threshold: enamel and dentine diagnostic threshold). Thirty-nine infants were diagnosed with caries and the frequencies of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms (and absolute microbial counts) were compared with infants who were caries-free. In addition, associations were sought between the infants' socio-economic background, the frequency of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms and caries status. Results: Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and yeasts were isolated more frequently from those infants with caries compared to those who were caries-free (S. mutans: 29.7 vs 9.8%, P=0.0008; lactobacilli: 15.4 vs 4.3%, P=0.0073; yeasts: 23.7 vs 10.4%, P=0.0016—Fisher's exact test). There were no significant differences between the isolation frequencies of S. sobrinus (2.7 vs 1.3%, P=0.39) from those with and without caries. Significantly, more infants living in areas of high deprivation had caries compared to those from more affluent areas (DEPCAT 6 and 7 vs 1–5: 3.6 vs 1.9%, P=0.049), but, apart from yeasts, socio-economic background was not significantly associated with the isolation frequencies of any of the caries-associated micro-organisms. Conclusions: In infants as young as 1 year of age, salivary S. mutans, lactobacilli and yeasts but not S. sobrinus were isolated significantly more frequently from those with caries compared to those who were caries-free. Apart from yeasts, socio-economic background did not influence the frequency of isolation of caries-associated micro-organisms. However, infants living in areas of highest deprivation had significantly higher frequencies of caries compared to those from more affluent areas.
- Subjects :
- Saliva
Microbiological culture
Colony Count, Microbial
Dentistry
Physiology
Dental Caries
Streptococcus sobrinus
Streptococcus mutans
Tongue
Yeasts
Humans
Dental Enamel
General Dentistry
Poverty
biology
business.industry
DMF Index
Dental enamel
Infant
biology.organism_classification
Lactobacillus
ROC Curve
Scotland
Social Class
Dentin
Colony count
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03005712
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of dentistry
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a27d0c2845631eaf0f6f8c314f728e86