The objective was to determine if a correlation exists between Streptococcus mutans and DMFT in the oral cavity. This study examined the feasibility of microbial screenings as an additional caries predictor tool. The sample included 108 participants (ages 18-25) in low, moderate, and high socioeconomic groups. Subjects were selected from one dental clinic and one college in Virginia. Subjects were assessed for DMFT, salivary and plaque bacterial load, and CRA. Salivary load positively correlated with the DMFT. Plaque bacterial load and CRA negatively correlated with DMFT. Comparison of salivary bacterial load among economic levels showed higher bacterial loads with lower economic level only. Twice the observed values were found in the low socioeconomic level with CRA. DMFT and economic level showed differences between economic levels. Microbial screenings may be a useful, additional tool in determining caries risk in oral hygiene programs for all income populations.
","abstract_html":"<p>The objective was to determine if a correlation exists between <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> and DMFT in the oral cavity. This study examined the feasibility of microbial screenings as an additional caries predictor tool. The sample included 108 participants (ages 18-25) in low, moderate, and high socioeconomic groups. Subjects were selected from one dental clinic and one college in Virginia. Subjects were assessed for DMFT, salivary and plaque bacterial load, and CRA. Salivary load positively correlated with the DMFT. Plaque bacterial load and CRA negatively correlated with DMFT. Comparison of salivary bacterial load among economic levels showed higher bacterial loads with lower economic level only. Twice the observed values were found in the low socioeconomic level with CRA. DMFT and economic level showed differences between economic levels. Microbial screenings may be a useful, additional tool in determining caries risk in oral hygiene programs for all income populations.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ellington, Lori Fay"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MSAH (Master of Science in Allied Health)","degree_level":"Thesis - restricted","degree_discipline":"Allied Health","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-05-05T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-05-05T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:31Z","subjects":["Streptococcus Mutans","DMFT","Microbial Screening","oral Cavity","Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Oral Biology and Oral Pathology"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1412","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ellington, Lori Fay"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2012-05-05T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Allied Health"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - restricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MSAH (Master of Science in Allied Health)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Streptococcus Mutans","DMFT","Microbial Screening","oral Cavity","Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Oral Biology and Oral Pathology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/2605/viewcontent/EllingtonL041812f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1412"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The objective was to determine if a correlation exists between Streptococcus mutans and DMFT in the oral cavity. This study examined the feasibility of microbial screenings as an additional caries predictor tool. The sample included 108 participants (ages 18-25) in low, moderate, and high socioeconomic groups. Subjects were selected from one dental clinic and one college in Virginia. Subjects were assessed for DMFT, salivary and plaque bacterial load, and CRA. Salivary load positively correlated with the DMFT. Plaque bacterial load and CRA negatively correlated with DMFT. Comparison of salivary bacterial load among economic levels showed higher bacterial loads with lower economic level only. Twice the observed values were found in the low socioeconomic level with CRA. DMFT and economic level showed differences between economic levels. Microbial screenings may be a useful, additional tool in determining caries risk in oral hygiene programs for all income populations.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Relationship Between Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Microbial Screening in the Oral Cavity"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Ellington, Lori Fay"],"dc:date.issued":["2012-05-05T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The objective was to determine if a correlation exists between Streptococcus mutans and DMFT in the oral cavity. This study examined the feasibility of microbial screenings as an additional caries predictor tool. The sample included 108 participants (ages 18-25) in low, moderate, and high socioeconomic groups. Subjects were selected from one dental clinic and one college in Virginia. Subjects were assessed for DMFT, salivary and plaque bacterial load, and CRA. Salivary load positively correlated with the DMFT. Plaque bacterial load and CRA negatively correlated with DMFT. Comparison of salivary bacterial load among economic levels showed higher bacterial loads with lower economic level only. Twice the observed values were found in the low socioeconomic level with CRA. DMFT and economic level showed differences between economic levels. Microbial screenings may be a useful, additional tool in determining caries risk in oral hygiene programs for all income populations.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/2605/viewcontent/EllingtonL041812f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1412"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["Streptococcus Mutans","DMFT","Microbial Screening","oral Cavity","Dentistry","Medicine and Health Sciences","Oral Biology and Oral Pathology"],"dc:title":["The Relationship Between Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Microbial Screening in the Oral Cavity"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Allied Health"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - restricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["MSAH (Master of Science in Allied Health)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:31Z"}