Antibodies to the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the development of caries in children in relation to maternal dental treatment during pregnancy

Abstract

These factors were studied in 50 children, aged 3.6 to 5.9 years. Children of mothers who had no dental treatment during pregnancy (NTP-group, n = 25) had significantly ( p < 0.02) more serum IgG antibodies reactive with Strep. mutans than those of mothers who received such treatment (TP-group, n = 25). The children in the NTP-group had fewer Strep. mutans, a higher proportion of intact dentitions, lower dmfs/DS-index and lower caries incidence than those in the TP-group. Over one year of follow-up, a significantly greater proportion of children in the TP- than in the NTP-group developed new caries ( p < 0.05). Thus, maternal dental treatment during pregnancy may affect caries development in the primary dentition of the child, possibly via transplacental immune mechanisms.