Abstract

LLENA-PUY, Mª Carmen; ALMERICH-SILLA, José Manuel  and  FORNER-NAVARRO, Leopoldo. Lingual surface lactic acid assessment: Its relation with the presence of active caries. RCOE [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.3, pp.303-308. ISSN 1138-123X.

Introduction: The diagnosis of caries susceptibility is a challenge which the present diagnostic procedures have to face. The presence of acids in the oral environment leads to a pH-level decrease, with lactic acid being the main responsible for this situation; the possibility of detecting its levels in the mouth could be used as an adequate diagnostic tool for assessing the individual caries risk. Materials and methods: In this preliminary study we evaluate a test recently launched on the market by 3M (Clinpro™ Cario L-Pop), which allows to measure on an ordinal scale the presence of lactic acid on the lingual surface. We have related the mean number of non-treated decay in 24 children between 6 and 14 years of age to the lingual surface lactic acid levels measured with the new test. Results: in those patients with low lactic acid levels (low risk patients), according to the test, we did not observe any tooth with active caries lesions. There is an increase in the mean number of teeth with active caries in patients with are classifies as medium or low-risk patients according to the test. Conclusion: This new test could be a useful auxiliary tool for evaluating the individual caries susceptibility risk. Nevertheless, it is necessary to perform longitudinal studies in order to know its efficacy in the prediction of caries risk.

Keywords : Dental caries; Susceptibility diagnosis; Lactic acid.

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