Candida albicans; probable role in ecology of Early Childhood Caries

Early Childhood Caries (ECC), a rampant type of dental caries in children below 71 months of age; a chronic childhood disease with a severe sequalae affecting the child and family. It is a multifactorial disease, with S.mutans and Lactobacilli being implicated as the main microorganisms in its etiopathogenesis. Recent literature suggests a probable role of Candida, fungal species, a normal commensal of the oral cavity, in its etiopathogenesis. Under particular predisposing physiological or pathological conditions, Candida is capable of provoking pathologies via endogenous infectious mechanism. In early childhood period, due to immature immune system and not fully established microflora in the oral cavity, children are more susceptible to opportunistic microbial colonization. This book covers a pre-school cross-sectional study to determine the Candida albicans counts, forms of existence and acidogenic potential; and to correlate its role with Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacilli levels in children with ECC, S-ECC and caries free.