Oral Alkali Production and Caries Prevention in Children (Cross-sectional Component)
Condition: Dental Caries
MeSH terms: Dental Caries
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The fact that dental caries remains a major public health problem mandates that oral-health
      researchers explore new strategies for assessment of caries risk, as well as for caries
      prevention and management. Dental caries occurs when acids produced by bacterial glycolysis
      of dietary carbohydrates causes demineralization of the tooth enamel. A major focus of caries
      research has been on identifying and characterizing acid-generating bacteria and the
      mechanisms of acid resistance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the type of
      bacteria that grows in the mouth and on teeth.
    

Detailed description: 
      This study will require only one visit. The study visit will last about one hour. At the
      study visit, parent-administered questionnaires will be used to collect information on the
      following: (a) the participant's demographic background (age, gender, and race), (b)
      socio-economic status (parents' income and housing condition), (c) participant's oral health
      practice (feeding histories, diet habits, oral hygiene measures, and dental attendance), and
      (d) systemic diseases. During the study visit, the participant's complete medical and dental
      history will be obtained and reviewed, and a dental exam will be performed in order to
      determine participants' caries status, and intraoral pictures may be taken of participants'
      teeth.

      Participants will not be allowed to brush or clean teeth using any type of oral hygiene
      procedures for 8 hours prior to sample collection. Saliva and plaque (The solf
      white-yellowish material on the tooth surface) will be collected. The Investigator will use a
      small probe to measure the pH of the dental plaque that builds up on the teeth. The
      participant will be asked to dip one finger into a glass containing a buffer solution and the
      probe will be placed on the teeth from which plaque will be taken.

      Dental plaque will be collected from the participants between the ages of 2 and 5 with at
      least two teeth and who allow the dental examination and the sample collection procedures to
      be done safely. Plaque samples will be collected by gently scrapping the tooth using a
      sterile instrument. If the participant does not have enough plaque samples, they will be
      asked to return on the following day. Saliva will be collected by using cotton swabs or by
      asking the participant to spit into a sterile plastic container.
    

Intervention name(s): Oral Samples
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Oral samples of saliva, dental plaque and DNA will be collected between the two groups.
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        The study population will consist of unrelated children aged between 2 and 5 years with
        different levels of caries experience.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Saliva and Dental Plaque
    
Keywords: Plaque; Saliva; Dental Caries