Genetic specificity to 6-n-propylthiouracil and its association to dental caries: A Comparative study.

Introduction: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases to affl ict humanity. Although caries has multifactorial etiology, inherited genetic behavior and taste threshold may play an important role on caries.

Material And Method: Thirty mothers and thirty children in the age group of 6-14 years of both sexes who have stable mental condition and ASA physical status were selected for the study & 6-n-propylthiouracil testing is done.

Results: It is observed that nontaster siblings have higher caries prevalence than medium tasters and supertasters.

Discussion: Genetic sensitivity to taste is an inherited trait in children from their parents, inheritance from mother being more pronounced. Hence, this study is intended.

Conclusion: Dental caries is multi-factorial. No significant correlation between susceptibility of mother and child to genetic sensitivity exists, and genetic sensitivity is not the only criteria for severity.