Very High Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Predicts Caries Progression in Young Children (original) (raw)

PURPOSE Culturing mutans streptococci (MS) from children's saliva has high utility in caries risk assessment. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine its ability in predicting caries progression and determine sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of a very high ["too numerous to count (TNTC) MS test result. METHODS 200 preschoolers (3.3±1.2 years, 50 percent no recoverable MS, 50 percent TNTC MS at first dental visit) were followed for five or more years. Caries experience of both groups was compared to identify predictors of caries presence and its progression. RESULTS Controlling for demographic, oral health, and dental visit factors, TNTC preschoolers had both greater presence and extent of caries at the first dental visit (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 8.0, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 2.5 to 25.5) and caries progression at five or more years (aOR 6.0, 95 percent CI 2.4 to 15.0). Fewer TNTC preschoolers remained caries free over five y...