Risk of caries and oral health: preliminary study

Introduction. The incidence of injury cariosa remains high, despite the improvements achieved in the last years. Recent national epidemiological surveys, 4 years old children have healthy teeth in 80% of cases at 12 years the percentage is reduced to 50%. In Italy, the almost total absence on the territory of “dental services to the Community”, makes even more difficult to achieve a solution to the problem “caries.” To address this problem, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Policy in October 2008 adopted the national guidelines in order to make suggestions to the various professionals (pediatricians, dentists, microbiologists, dental hygienists, etc.), making them interact to maintain and restore oral health. It was the first time that the Ministry of Health has addressed the problem by inserting the figure of the microbiologist in dentistry. Aims. The present study aim was to identify subjects at risk of caries by clinical microbiological testing of saliva and the index DMFT/dmft (Decayed, Missing and Filling Permanent Teeth) in both adults and particularly children in order to take preventive measures early as reported in “National guidelines for the promotion of oral health and prevention of oral diseases in age of development”. The study began in June 2009 and will last one year with as goal to have, in 2010, 90% of children between 5 and 6 years caries free and 18 years with any lost tooth decay. Materials and methods. Recruited 164 patients were divided into three age groups: 124 adults aged between 20 and 40 years, 40 children which 21 till 5 years old and 19 till 12 years old. Microbiological testing was aimed by finding CFU / ml of saliva of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp., Slide CRT bacteria (Ivoclar). Clinically, intraoral examination was performed to evaluate the DMFT (Decayed teeth, Missing or Filling) calculated over 28 permanent teeth and the dmft (decayed teeth, missing or filling) calculated on 20 deciduous teeth in children, using the form ‘s WHO. Results. 35.97% of the samples tested positive with a high bacterial count> 105 CFU / ml of saliva concerning S.mutans and 31.70% were positive with a high bacterial count> 105 CFU / ml of saliva concerning Lactobacillus spp. The DMFT of adults was equal to 2.1, the one of children of 12 years was equal to 1.5 and the one of children of 4 years was equal to 1.01. Conclusions.The results confirmed the importance of checking regularly, at least 2 times a year, individuals who are charged with critical S.mutans and Lactobacillus spp. through microbiological testing of saliva and through DMFT / dmft indexes for early detection of individuals at risk of caries.