Caries in the primary teeth and salivary Streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus levels as indicators of caries in permanent teeth.

The relation between dental caries in the primary and permanent dentitions of the same individuals was studied during the period of general decline of caries in the child population. The caries activity of the study group in their teens, measured by cariesrelated microbial tests and clinical parameters, was low. However, the results suggest that caries experience of the primary dentition was associated with caries experience of the subsequent permanent dentition. The association was strong in persons who were cariesinactive and weaker in those who were caries-active in the primary dentition.