Department of Pedodontics, Dental Faculty, Başkent University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Caries Res. 2011;45(6):556-60. doi: 10.1159/000332432. Epub 2011 Oct 28.
Caries activity tests are being used to assess caries risk in children. In recent years the purpose of most studies has been to develop practical, quick, reliable and economic tests. Clinical studies showed that the difference in sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is a heritable trait and may influence children's nutritional habits and caries development. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between PROP sensitivity and caries activity in schoolchildren, in comparison with different caries activity tests. One hundred and twenty children aged between 7 and 12 years (mean age 9.97 ± 1.59) were investigated to determine socioeconomic status and oral hygiene habits, fluoride consumption, DMFT, DMFS, df, dfs, plaque indexes, and nutritional habits. Children were divided into three groups according to their caries risk status based on the Cariogram. The solution test and the PROP-impregnated filter paper test were used together to determine PROP sensitivity. After all associated factors had been controlled, stepwise regression analyses revealed that DMFT and dfs scores were important determinants of PROP. According to dfs, the sensitivity of the Cariogram and of PROP tests was 0.85 and 0.70, respectively, and specificity was 0.32 and 0.33, respectively. There was an inverse significant relationship between PROP sensitivity and DMFT, DMFS, and dfs results (p < 0.01). In conclusion, PROP nontasters were significantly more likely to have high caries risk than PROP tasters (p < 0.01).
龋活性检测用于评估儿童的龋病风险。近年来，大多数研究的目的都是开发实用、快速、可靠和经济的检测方法。临床研究表明，对 6-正丙基硫氧嘧啶（PROP）苦味的敏感性差异是一种可遗传的特征，可能会影响儿童的营养习惯和龋病发展。本研究旨在调查儿童 PROP 敏感性与龋活性之间的关系，并与不同的龋活性检测方法进行比较。对 120 名年龄在 7 至 12 岁之间（平均年龄 9.97 ± 1.59 岁）的儿童进行了调查，以确定社会经济状况和口腔卫生习惯、氟化物摄入、DMFT、DMFS、df、dfs、菌斑指数和营养习惯。根据 Cariogram 将儿童分为三组，以确定其龋病风险状况。使用溶液测试和 PROP 浸渍滤纸测试来确定 PROP 敏感性。在控制所有相关因素后，逐步回归分析表明 DMFT 和 dfs 评分是 PROP 的重要决定因素。根据 dfs，Cariogram 和 PROP 测试的敏感性分别为 0.85 和 0.70，特异性分别为 0.32 和 0.33。PROP 敏感性与 DMFT、DMFS 和 dfs 结果呈显著负相关（p < 0.01）。总之，PROP 非味觉者患龋病高风险的可能性显著高于 PROP 味觉者（p < 0.01）。
