Open AccessSecretor status and dental caries in Iceland
Author(s) -
Holbrook W.P.,
Blackwell C.C.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1989.tb02427.x
Subject(s) - dentistry , streptococcus mutans , medicine , dental plaque , population , physiology , biology , environmental health , bacteria , genetics
The proportion of non‐secretors of ABH blood‐group substances among Icelanders is one of the highest recorded for European countries. Dental caries prevalence is also very high. In this study of dental caries in young adults mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth for secretors were 17.4 and for non‐secretors 19.9 ( P < 0.05). A majority of patients seeking free dental treatment in the Dental School were non‐secretors (62.7%) significantly more than the proportion of non‐secretors in the general population (36%; P < 0.01). It is postulated that blood group substances may interfere with the adherence of Streptococcus mutants to teeth.