MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI AND CARIES PREVALENCE IN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

Numerous studies have reported a correlation between mutans streptococ ci levels and dental caries. The aim of this study was to assess the r elationship between salivary mutans streptococci levels and caries in preschool children of low socioeconomic status. A total of 462 Head St art children, mean age 3.8 yr (range 2.0-5.3 yr), were examined by the modified method of RADIKE. Saliva samples from 458 of these children were collected with tongue blades and impressed onto mutans streptococ ci selective agar. Children's mutans streptococci levels were categori zed as low (0 CFU), moderate (1-50 CFU) or high (> 50 CFU), and the me an dmfs was 0.40, 1.92 and 4.88, respectively. All study groups (Black , Hispanic and White) had infection rates of approximately 83%; howeve r, 39.1% of Black children had high mutans streptococci levels compare d with 28.4% of White children. Pit/fissure caries was the most preval ent disease type in children with moderate or high mutans streptococci levels, although White children in the high group had significantly l ess of this pattern than Blacks and Hispanics. Sensitivity, specificit y, and positive and negative predictive values for the high mutans str eptococci group were 91.3%, 57.5%, 69.3% and 86.3%. Results from this study indicate that differences between Black, Hispanic and White pres chool children may influence caries activity within populations that h ave similar mutans streptococci infection levels and socioeconomic bac kgrounds.