PCR detection of Scardovia wiggsiae in combination with Streptococcus mutans for early childhood caries-risk prediction.

The microbial factor is an important determinant in caries risk assessment. This study aimed to use detection, by PCR, of Scardovia wiggsiae, in combination with Streptococcus mutans, for the accurate prediction of caries risk in children. Detection of Lactobacillus, as a caries-specific species, was also performed. Dental plaque, as well as infected dentine when available, was collected from children who were caries-free (n = 30) or diagnosed with early childhood caries (n = 30), and the prevalence and abundance of S. wiggsiae and S. mutans were estimated using quantitative PCR. Lactobacillus was amplified by Lactobacillus genus-specific primers and then sequenced. Both S. wiggsiae and S. mutans were concurrently detected in 19 children diagnosed with early childhood caries, but in none of the caries-free children. The positive predictive value was 1 in children with S. wiggsiae- and S. mutans-positive test results, compared with 0.58 when only S. mutans was detected and 0.9 when only S. wiggsiae was detected. The abundance of S. wiggsiae and S. mutans in infected dentine was higher than that in dental plaque from children. Diverse Lactobacillus species were observed in dental plaque but none appeared to be caries-specific. In conclusion, the detection of S. wiggsiae in combination with S. mutans improves the positive predictive value and the specificity of the test.