Association of Streptococcus Mutans, Candida Albicans and Oral Health Practices with Activity Status of Caries Lesions Among 5-Year-Old Children with Early Childhood Caries
Sridhar, Sowmya / Suprabha, Baranya Shrikrishna / Shenoy, Ramya / Suman, Ethel / Rao, ArathiPage 911 - 919Purpose:Candida albicans is frequently detected together with Streptococcus mutans in the plaque or biofilms of children with early childhood caries (ECC). The aim of this study was to examine the association of the microbial counts of C. albicans and S. mutans in the supragingival plaque with the activity status of carious lesions and oral health practices in children with ECC.Materials and Methods: 66 children aged 5 years were examined and their caries status recorded as per the ICDAS-II and the Lesion Activity Assessment (LAA) criteria. A questionnaire covering oral health practices was administered to parents. Plaque samples were collected and cultured on mitis salivarus bacitracin (MSB) agar and CHROMagar. Data was analysed using Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test.Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the levels of S. mutans and C. albicans (rs = 0.702, p
Source: Oral health and Preventive dentistry - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research