Mutans streptococci and caries prevalence in children after early maternal caries prevention: a follow-up at eleven and fifteen years of age.

Aim: The efficacy of early maternal caries prevention in children was evaluated.

Methods: First-time mothers selected on the basis of a high level of salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and mothers excluded at screening due to a low level of MS ('low') were recalled when their children were 11 years old. The salivary MS level was determined in the mothers. Their children were examined for salivary MS and lesion prevalence (decayed and filled surfaces, DFS) at the ages of 11 and 15 years.

Results: More 'high control' mothers displayed ≥10⁶ MS than the 'high interventional' and 'low control' mothers and, vice versa, more 'interventional' and 'low control' mothers had MS counts of <3 × 10⁵ than 'high control' mothers. More of 'interventional' and 'low control' children had <10⁵ MS/ml as compared with the 'high control' children. All the 'high control' children had detectable MS. MS were undetected in 5 'interventional' and 5 'low control' children at 15 years. Significantly fewer 'high control' than 'interventional' and 'low control' children were caries free at 11 and 15 years of age. Non-MS-colonised children at 3 years of age, irrespective of group identity, displayed statistically lower MS counts and less DFS at 15 years than those colonised at 3 years of age. Children with clinical caries/fillings at 15 years had had a significantly higher level of MS at 11 years of age than those without clinical caries/fillings.

Conclusion: The clinical trial, focusing on the mothers, resulted in long-term benefits for their children. Children colonised by MS at an early stage developed more caries than those colonised at a later stage.