According to ecological plaque theory, the process of tooth caries is directly related to the total amount of organic acid produced by bacteria in an oral cavity. The colorimetric test is one of several caries activity tests. It takes cultures of oral...
According to ecological plaque theory, the process of tooth caries is directly related to the total amount of organic acid produced by bacteria in an oral cavity. The colorimetric test is one of several caries activity tests. It takes cultures of oral plaque and visually demonstrates the total amount of organic acid produced by that plaque. The purpose of this study is not only to assess a new colorimetric caries activity test, Cariview, but also to assess the correlation of caries activity between mothers and their children, comparing the Cariview test with the specific bacteria culture test, CRT bacteria.
Mothers and their children under 6 years participated in this study with informed consent. Mothers filled out a questionnaire first. Then each subject had an oral examination and the above two caries activity tests were administered. All data was statistically analyzed using the Pearson correlation test, Spearman correlation test, Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney U test at the 0.05 significance level. The results were as followed.
1. Cariview scores showed statistically significant correlation with children’s caries experience(r=0.598, P<0.01) and showed higher correlation than CRT bacteria scores.
2. Cariview scores showed statistically significant correlation with the number of decayed teeth in both mothers and children(P<0.05).
3. Both caries activity tests showed the correlation of caries experience or caries activity between mothers and their children is not statistically significant.
Cariview colorimetric test properly reflects children’s caries experience and current caries status and it is also easy to use with uncooperative children. Therefore, it is supposed that Cariview colorimetric test would be clinically useful for predicting future caries risk and establishing a preventative strategy at a pediatric dental clinic. Meanwhile, it is suggested that the lack of correlation of caries experience or caries activity between mothers and their children in this study reflects the high availability of nursery spaces in Korea today, and that further studies will be needed on this subject.