Tineo Silvina, Nelson-Filho Paulo, Barbosa Thais Citolino, Gimenez José Maria Alvarez, Silva Raquel Assed Bezzera da, Silva Lea Assed Bezzera da, Saravia Marta Estela
Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucuman, Tucumán, Argentina.
Laboratory Oral Biology-LABOFOUNT, School of Dentistry, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucuman, Tucumán, Argentina.
Braz Dent J. 2025 Apr 14;36:e246407. doi: 10.1590/0103-644020256407. eCollection 2025.
The study aimed to compare two different methods (wooden spatula and plastic pipette) for the collection of unstimulated saliva for colony counting of Mutans Streptococci species (MS) (microbiological caries risk), in infants and toddlers. The children's behavior was favorable (very comfortable or comfortable) and unfavorable (uncomfortable or very uncomfortable), while the saliva collection, was also evaluated. Saliva samples were obtained from 19 children aged 1-29 months, of both sexes and seeded by both methods, obtaining the MS CFU numbers. The ANOVA test was used to statistically analyze the microbiological results, and the Z-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the behavioral assessment (α= 0,05%). 63.1% and 57.9% of children had MS in their saliva, using the saliva collection techniques with a spatula and a pipette, respectively. The number of CFUs was an average of 10.47 for saliva collected with the spatula and 7.32 for saliva collected with the pipette, however, there was no statistical difference between the methods (p=0.696653). Comparing the ages 1-6 months and 18-29 months, the older children showed higher CFU numbers, for both methods (p=0.000383). The clinical assessment of the child's behavior demonstrated a significant statistical difference between the two methods, with more positive behavior for the spatula (p<0.001). In conclusion, the wooden spatula method can be used for saliva collection and quantifying of the MS levels in infants and toddlers, since there was no significant difference in the CFUs count, furthermore is better accepted based on the child's behavior, compared to the plastic pipette technique.
该研究旨在比较两种不同的方法（木铲和塑料移液管）用于收集婴幼儿未刺激唾液，以进行变形链球菌属（MS）（微生物致龋风险）的菌落计数。评估了儿童在唾液采集过程中的行为表现，分为良好（非常舒适或舒适）和不良（不舒服或非常不舒服）两类。从19名年龄在1至29个月的儿童中采集唾液样本，样本通过两种方法采集后进行接种，得出MS的CFU数量。采用方差分析对微生物学结果进行统计学分析，采用Z检验和卡方检验对行为评估结果进行分析（α = 0.05%）。分别使用木铲和移液管采集唾液的技术时，63.1%和57.9%的儿童唾液中含有MS。用木铲采集的唾液平均CFU数为10.47，用移液管采集的唾液平均CFU数为7.32，但两种方法之间无统计学差异（p = 0.696653）。比较1至6个月和18至29个月的儿童，两种方法均显示年龄较大的儿童CFU数更高（p = 0.000383）。对儿童行为的临床评估表明，两种方法之间存在显著统计学差异，木铲采集时儿童行为更积极（p < 0.001）。总之，木铲法可用于婴幼儿唾液采集及MS水平定量，因为CFU计数无显著差异，此外，与塑料移液管技术相比，基于儿童行为，木铲法更易被接受。
