Maternal Salivary Bacterial Challenge is Associated With Oral Infection Among Children and Predicts Early Childhood Caries (ECC) Incidence in a High-risk Cohort of 36-month-old Children

Abstract

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Maternal oral bacterial levels predict early childhood caries development. Chaffee BW, Gansky SA, Weintraub JA, Featherstone JDB, Ramos-Gomez FJ. J Dent Res 2014;93(3):238-44. Reviewer Dorota T. Kopycka-Kedzierawski, DDS, MPH Purpose/Question The authors measured the association of maternal salivary bacterial challenge (mutans streptococci [MS] and lactobacilli [LB]) from pregnancy through 24 months postpartum with ECC incidence at age 36 months. Source of Funding Government, grant numbers: U54DE014251 and U54DE019385 Type of Study/Design Prospective observational cohort nested in the randomized clinical trial Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable