Question · asked by 1 review

Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline: Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion

Preschool children with mutans streptococci at baseline probably have about four times higher odds of developing early childhood caries (OR 4.13; moderate certainty).

What each review found

Include earlier review versions
FindingEffectStudiesGRADE certainty
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Overall
Preschool children with mutans streptococci at baseline probably have about four times higher odds of developing early childhood caries (OR 4.13; moderate certainty).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 4.13 [3.33, 5.12]12 studies · 3010 participantsModerate
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Sample: plaque
When mutans streptococci were detected in plaque, baseline presence was associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 5.16; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 5.16 [2.99, 8.91]5 studies · 736 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Sample: saliva
When mutans streptococci were detected in saliva, baseline presence was associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 3.92; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 3.92 [3.20, 4.80]9 studies · 2577 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 1 year, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Follow-up: 1 year
At 1 year of follow-up, baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 4.37; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 4.37 [3.50, 5.45]4 studies · 2016 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 2.7 years (31 months median), Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Follow-up: 2.7 years (31 months median)
At about 2.7 years (single study), baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 33.00, very wide CI; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 33.00 [3.18, 342.26]1 study · 28 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 2 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Follow-up: 2 years
At 2 years of follow-up, baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 2.53; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 2.53 [1.22, 5.23]4 studies · 297 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Microbiological assessment: quantitative (culture/CFU counting)
In studies using quantitative (culture-based) microbiological assessment, baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 3.82; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 3.82 [2.01, 7.26]6 studies · 732 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 3.5 years (42 months), Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Follow-up: 3.5 years (42 months)
At 3.5 years (single study), baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 4.23; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 4.23 [2.49, 7.18]1 study · 366 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Follow-up: 6 months
At 6 months of follow-up, baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 4.65; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 4.65 [2.01, 10.76]2 studies · 303 participantsGRADE not reported
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore, Microbiological assessment: semi-quantitative (Dentocult/commercial kit)
In studies using semi-quantitative (Dentocult/kit) microbiological assessment, baseline mutans streptococci were associated with higher odds of developing caries (OR 4.36; ungraded subgroup).
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) All outcomes
OR 4.36 [3.53, 5.39]6 studies · 2278 participantsGRADE not reported

Findings are shown side by side, never pooled across reviews.

The reviews

ReviewSearched up toIncluded studiesAMSTAR 2
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
2023 All outcomes
2022-11-1523Not applicable

Studies behind the findings

The primary studies the full-text reviews tie to this outcome. Reviews with headline outcomes only do not list them here.

How reviews are matched to this question

Reviews word the same question differently. Four decision models (TypeSafe's Jev, Liquid AI's d1-ultra, SubQ Snap and Baseten's Elephant) judged each wording of the population, intervention, comparator and outcome against the others; two wordings count as the same when at least three of them agree and none clearly disagrees, and findings count as this question only when all four elements match. Timing, setting and subgroup never split a question: they are shown on each finding.