Abstract
Introduction: Streptococcus mutans along with other factors plays an important role in the development of dental caries. In terms of optimalization of prevention of dental caries, there has been search for a reliable test for a chair side caries risk assessment.
GC Saliva-Check Mutans allows us to semiqantitatively assess the amount of bacteria Streptococcus mutans in saliva. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the patients with high concentration of Streptococcus mutans in saliva (i.e. positive result in Saliva-check mutans) are at higher caries risk than patients with lower concentration of Streptococcus mutans in saliva.
Further, we compared three different methods of detection of carious lesions - clinical examination, x-ray and DIAGNOcam. Material and methods: Seventy patients aged 16-85 years were involved in the study.
On each patient clinical examination was performed and also radiological (bitewing projection) and using intraoral camera (diagnocam), if indicated, in order to find initial caries lesions. To determine the concentration of Streptococcus mutans in saliva, commercially produced set GC Saliva-Check Mutans was used.
Results: Our results have shown that patients who tested positive in Saliva-check mutans test have significantly more caries lesions (5.7) than patients who tested negative (2.7 caries lesions). Conclusion: Our study has proved that patients with higher concentration of Streptococcus mutans are at significantly higher caries risk.
Saliva-check showed to be suitable for caries risk assessment. Then we proved, that we can detect more caries lesions by using intraoral camera than only by clinical examination or using x-ray.