Oral
Microbiota of Children with Dental Disparities
The
goal of this project is to provide a sound scientific basis on which
to devise therapy regimens that can improve dental health of children
and adolescents with oral health disparities. The objective of the current
project is to examine the oral microbiota associated with dental caries
in children, seeking differences that associate with and could explain
increased disease in children and adolescents, and differences in racial
and socioeconomic groups in a population with oral health disparities.
A range of possible caries-associated species will be monitored including
the mutans streptococci, several Actinomyces and Bifidobacterium species,
and selected periodontal pathogens. The first aim evaluates the microbiota
of young children and adolescents using a DNA probe checkerboard assay.
The association of microbial species with caries in different age, racial
or ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, will be evaluated. The sequence
of development of the oral microbiota in childhood may differ in children
with and without disease. It is possible that poor oral health of adults
with oral health disparities is based on, and could be predicted from
the microbiota of childhood and adolescence. The second aim takes detection
of caries out of the dental office into that of the pediatrician. A
simple microbial sampling method will be evaluated for its ability to
improve detection of early childhood caries. The third aim evaluates
the microbiota of severe early childhood caries, the most prevalent
oral infection in children that can impact children's general health.
The aim evaluates whether comprehensive therapy changes the microbiota
to that of caries-free children, and how the suppression of caries-associated
species, including Streptococcus mutans, post-therapy, are associated
with success of treatment. Information from this project should clarify
the microbiota associated with childhood caries. Of clinical importance
this project seeks ways to facilitate improvement of dental health of
under-served populations directed by evaluating improved diagnosis and
risk assessment of childhood caries so effective therapy can be focused
on children and adolescents most in need.
