Discriminant ability for caries risk of modified colorimetric tests

Objetive: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the caries risk in children over a two-year period and their baseline caries status, salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, and results of the Alban test and modifications thereof using different substrates. Study design: Ninety-five children aged 6-7 were examined in Granada (southern Spain) for dental caries at baseline and every six months. Stimulated saliva was sampled and inoculated in 7 colorimetric tests based on Snyder's medium with different sugars and polyalcohols. A mutans streptococci and lactobacilli count was performed (Dentocult SM strip (R) and Dentocult LB (R)). Caries risk proportions were contrasted against the potential predictor variables, i.e., basal caries history and salivary tests, by means of the Mantel Haenszel test for linear association, based on a chi-square distribution with 1 degree of freedom (df). Results: Caries index, lactobacillus count and colorimetric tests showed significant, but limited, and non-different discriminant abilities. Increasing values of all predictor variables, except for Dentocult SM (R), were related to increasing caries risk proportions. Conclusion: Colorimetric test results and caries history showed similar correlation values as caries predictors.