Efficacy of dip slide test for mutans streptococci in caries risk assessment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a dip slide test for mutans streptococci in caries risk assessment, when the microbiological res ults were compared to well-defined clinical criteria (DCC) for caries risk, clinically measured through high and low caries activity. Eighty-one volun teers from the 6(th) to 8(th) grades from public schools of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated for dental caries. All free smooth surfaces were evaluated to check whether or not there were white spots. Based on the subjects' caries experience, a calibrated clinician divided them into grou ps of high and low caries activity. The subjects were submitted to a saliva ry test (CARITEST SM (R)) from the same batch number. Kappa statistics (kap pa) were applied to verify the reproducibility of the simplified test, chec ked through interexaminer agreement when the results were classified by ind ependent and blind means. The microbiological results were validated accord ing to expressions of sensitivity and specificity. A moderate agreement was verified as the results were classified according to 6 scores (kappa =0.55 ), and the agreement was substantial when the results were classified accor ding to high and low microbiological count (kappa =0.78). The sensitivity a nd specificity values were 0.59 and 0.85, respectively, showing that the te st was more specific than sensitive, and could thus better identify the low caries risk subjects.