SCREENING FOR RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARIES

Authors:

Abstract:

Dental caries remains a widespread chronic disease requiring effective risk assessment strategies. The purpose of the study was to identify risk factors for caries development and progression in young adults. The study involved 26 dental students aged 19–20 years, divided into three groups: caries-free, compensated caries, and subcompensated caries. Complex examination included assessment of salivary flow rate, viscosity, and pH, and plaque age using indicating tablets, as well as microscopic analysis of Gram-stained dental plaque. The results showed that salivary flow rate and pH (6.0–7.0) were within physiological norms for all groups. However, patients with caries exhibited increased salivary viscosity and a prevalence of mature dental plaque (>48 hours). Microbiological analysis revealed a dominance of Gram-positive cocci, morphologically similar to Streptococcus species, in the plaque of caries-active individuals. It is concluded that local factors, such as salivary viscosity and biofilm maturity, are critical determinants of risk even when general salivary parameters are normal.

Keywords:

dental caries risk factors saliva salivary viscosity dental plaque oral microbiota

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026) , с. 41-45
УДК 616.314-002.4-02./-039.36:616-07

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2026-1-95-41-45