Caries experience in children with various genetic sensitivity levels to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP): a pilot study.

Purpose: The objective of this pilot study was to determine the prevalence of coronal dental caries among children with different genetic sensitivity levels of taste, as determined by 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP).

Methods: Coronal caries and restorations in permanent and primary dentition were evaluated in 150 healthy school-aged children aged 6 to 12 years. A filter paper containing 6-n-propylthiouracil was used to determine each subject's genetic ability to taste bitter and sweet substances. Supertasters perceived stronger tastes from a variety of bitter and sweet substances than both medium tasters and nontasters. The data were analyzed by ANOVA with Duncan's multiple range test, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, multiple linear regression analyses, and Pearson's coefficient of correlation.

Results: The nontasters had more mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dfs/DMFS) than tasters. The values of mean decayed and filled surfaces of primary dentition and mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces of permanent dentition (dfs/DMFS) and mean decayed surfaces of primary dentition and permanent dentition (ds/DS) were significantly higher in nontasters than in medium tasters, and in medium tasters compared with supertasters. After adjusting for missing teeth, the data were expressed as a percentage of the available surfaces, and the significant differences in dfs/DMFS and ds/DS persisted (r = -0.49, P < .001 and r = -0.51, P < .0001 respectively).

Conclusions: After all associated factors were controlled, taste was the only independent variable significantly related to overall caries experience. The results of this study suggested an increased prevalence of overall caries experience in nontaster children.