| Abstrakt: |
To quantify Streptococcus mutans, lactobacillusand bifidobacteriumin initial and mature plaque collected from children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and caries-free (CF) groups and to analyse the association between these bacteria and caries-related factors in each group. A collection of 120 initial and overnight supra-gingival plaques were collected from Thai children aged 2–5 years-old (S-ECC = 60, CF = 60). Plaque, gingival indices and decayed, missing, filled tooth (dmft) scores were recorded. A questionnaire was used to assess the parents’ attitudes and behaviour regarding the child’s oral hygiene care and diet. After DNA extraction, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using fluorescent dye (SYBR green) was performed. Levels of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacillusand bifidobacteriumin both initial and mature plaques of S-ECC were significantly higher than those from the caries-free group (p< 0.05). The ratio of S. mutans, lactobacillus, and bifidobacteriumto the total bacteria in S-ECC was significantly higher than in the caries-free group (p< 0.05). Levels of lactobacillusand bifidobacteriumin both plaques significantly correlated with dmft scores and the plaque index, while S. mutanslevels only correlated with dmft scores (p< 0.05). Factors that were significantly associated with caries were parents’s education, duration of bottle feeding, especially during sleeping and the frequency of consuming cariogenic food between meals (p< 0.05). Levels of S. mutans, lactobacillus, bifidobacteriumand the ratio of these bacteria to total bacteria in both initial and mature plaques were significantly higher in children with S-ECC and related to dmft scores, oral hygiene and dietary habits. |
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