Salivary lactobacilli and yeasts in relation to caries increment. Annually repeated measurements versus a single determination.

The purpose was to compare annually repeated measurements with a single determination of salivary lactobacilli and yeasts in distinguishing subjects with high and low caries increments. The determinations were carried out using Dentocult and Oricult chair-side methods in connection with a 3-year oral health preventive program. The subjects were institutionalized Hungarian children (n = 257), ranging from six to eleven years of age. The data were analyzed by comparing the age-adjusted means of caries increment in subjects with positive and negative microbiological findings. In comparison with a single determination, two or three annual measurements of the tests proved to increase the ability to distinguish subjects with respect to the 3-year caries increment. The analysis of the repeated measurements providing longitudinal information of these microorganisms probably included the time factor required for development of caries.