Dental Caries and Microbial Acid Production in Twins
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental stimuli on dental caries traits and microbial acid production in a twin model. Methods: Dental caries examinations and microbial acid production assays were performed on 388 pairs of twins 1.5–8 years old from the city of Montes Claros, Brazil. Genotyping 8 polymorphic DNA markers determined zygosity. Caries exams followed NIDCR criteria modified to distinguish white spot lesions from cavitated lesions. Surface-based caries prevalence rates (SBCPR) were computed and lesion severity was determined by a weighted index (LSI). Biofilm samples were collected from the tongue using a lactic acid indicator swab. Assay scores were categorized based on acid formation as 1 = low, 2 = medium, and 3 = high. Heritability analyses were performed using the SOLAR software package. Results: Heritability estimates for SBCPRs, LSI and for microbial acid production were H = 76.3 (p < 0.001), H = 70.6 (p < 0.001), H = 16.2 (p = 0.0078), respectively. Treating microbial acid production as a covariate in the SBCPR and LSI models did not significantly alter the heritability estimates, i.e. H = 76.5 (p < 0.001) and H = 70.8 (p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that variation in dental caries surface traits has a significant genetic contribution and that microbial acid production is modulated by the environment.
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Heritability of microbial functions related to acid production was nearly 76%.
“In support of this, a different study found that heritability of microbial functions related to acid production was nearly 76%.122”
From The oral microbiome: Role of key organisms and complex networks in oral health and disease (2021) · cites this paper as [122]
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- Authors
- Bretz, W. A., Corby, P. M. A., Hart, T. C., Costa, S., Coelho, M. Q., Weyant, R. J., Robinson, M., & Schork, N. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (US)
- Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (BR)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Venue
- Caries Research
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2005
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 168-172
- ISSN
- 0008-6568 (ISSN-L)
- 1421-976X
- OpenAlex
- W2049621853
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 4.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Caries Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE 014528, DE 15351, R01DE015351, K12DE014528)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › dental development and anomalies
- Keywords
- dental caries, heritability, twins, genetic contribution, environmental factors, tongue biofilm, lactic acid, white spot lesions, zygosity, children
- MeSH terms
- Acids, Child, Child, Preschool, Dental Caries, Dental Caries Activity Tests, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Linear Models, Quantitative Trait, Heritable
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