Exploring the Oral Microbiome in the Dental Biofilm of Children with Caries from Vulnerable Communities in Cartagena, Colombia: A Cross-sectional Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aims and background: To explore the oral microbiome in the cariogenic dental biofilm in children from vulnerable communities in Cartagena, Colombia. Materials and methods: We conducted a prevalence study that included 75 children aged 5-8 from three vulnerable communities in Cartagena, Colombia. Taking into account the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), calibrated examiners diagnosed all participants with dental caries. Samples of dental biofilm were obtained from carious tooth surfaces; extraction of bacterial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was performed, and sequenced V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA (ribosomal ribonucleic acid) gene. Statistical analyses were conducted at the genus and species levels. Microbial diversity was analyzed using the Shannon diversity index. Results: -Shannon index of 3.02 (SD 0.36) indicated. Conclusion: The oral microbiome in the cariogenic dental biofilm in children from vulnerable communities in Cartagena shows high bacterial diversity, with specific species significantly associated with extensive cavitated lesions. Clinical significance: Understanding the microbial diversity and specific bacterial associations in carious lesions provides valuable insights for developing targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies. How to cite this article: . Exploring the Oral Microbiome in the Dental Biofilm of Children with Caries from Vulnerable Communities in Cartagena, Colombia: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(10):1211-1216.
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415388449