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Salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli and dental caries experiences in a US adolescent population
Author(s) -
Kingman Albert,
Little Wayne,
Gomez Irma,
Heifetz Stanley B.,
Driscoll William S.,
Sheats Rose,
Supan Paul
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1988.tb01852.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , medicine , dentistry , dental plaque , population , saliva , bacteria , environmental health , genetics , biology
– Dental caries exams and saliva samples were obtained from 541 adolescents, aged 10–15, initially and after 17 months as part of a 3‐yr longitudinal study investigating the relationships of dietary intakes, specific microorganisms in saliva, and the prevalence and incidence of dental caries. The mean DMFS score detected in these subjects initially was 4.61, and they developed an average of 1.38 new DMFS during the first 17‐month period. Initially S. mutans and lactobacilli were detected in 64% and 56% of these subjects, respectively. Subjects with low levels of S. mutans and lactobacilli had significantly lower initial DMFS scores and developed significantly fewer new DMFS than subjects with high counts. The predictive values of a positive result for S. mutans or lactobacilli assays were low (31% and 39%), but those for a negative result were high (81% and 84%).