Comparison of a new chairside test for caries risk assessment with established methods in children

The aim of this study was to compare the results of a new method, measurement of lactic-acid production on the tongue (LAP), with established methods of caries risk assessment in children.

One hundred nineteen children (6-10 years old) participated in the study. Data collection included number of carious lesions (D-T) and filled teeth (F-T), approximal plaque index (API), LAP, buffering capacity (BC), counts of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) in stimulated saliva. According to caries presence, the children were divided into low risk (LR group; D-T = 0) and high risk (HR group; D-T > or = 1) groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test, Spearman's test for nonparametric correlations, uni- and multivariate regression analysis.

Seventy-two children (F-T = 0.4 +/- 1.4) were in the LR and 47 (D-T = 2.5 +/- 2.7; F-T = 1.5 +/- 1.9) in the HR group. The correlation analysis verified statistically significant correlations between D-T and the salivary counts of MS/LB and between D-T and F-T. API correlated with F-T and LB, while F-T and LB also correlated with each other significantly. The counts of MS and LB showed also a significant correlation. The LAP showed a significant correlation only to F-T. Significances in univariate regression analysis were found for F-T, counts of LB and MS in saliva, and for LAP. The multivariate regression analysis indicated significances only for F-T and LB in saliva, but not for LAP.

LAP might be useful only as a supplementary screening tool for caries risk assessment, but not as a sole predictor.