Relationship between daily habits, Streptococcus mutans, and caries among schoolboys
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Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Mohamed ElSalhy1, Sisko Honkala, Eva Söderling
1Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait; Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between daily habits, Streptococcus mutans, and caries using International Caries Detection and Assessment System Caries Index (ICDAS CI); and compare it to the DMF index.
Subjects And Methods:
Altogether 122 children were examined and interviewed. Saliva and plaque samples were collected and analyzed by Dentocult SM(®) Strip Mutans test. ICDAS CI was calculated by counting all ICDAS caries scores of all surfaces divided by total number of carious teeth.
Results:
ICDAS CI was significantly (p<0.01) and strongly associated with DMFT/dmft (ρ=0.72), DMFS/dmfs (ρ=0.72), total number of carious teeth (DT/dt) (ρ=0.77), enamel caries surfaces (ρ=0.61) and dentine caries surfaces (ρ=0.75). Plaque S. mutans was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with ICDAS CI and DT/dt. Children who brushed once a day or more had significantly lower ICDAS CI (p<0.01). Children who consumed sweets or drank soft drinks more than once a day had significantly higher ICDAS CI (p<0.05). No significant association was found between ICDAS CI and frequency of flossing, use of mouthrinse, or gum chewing.
Conclusion:
ICDAS CI seems to have similar trends as DMF indices, but includes more information about the stage, severity, and progress of the caries lesions of the patient.
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