Salivary microbiota profile in relation to the number of active caries in children and young adults

This study investigates the composition of the human salivary microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3–V4 regions) to explore the relationship between the oral microbial profile and the number of active dental caries across different age groups. Saliva samples were collected from children and young adults, and participants were classified according to the clinically diagnosed number of active carious lesions. The goal is to identify microbial patterns associated with varying levels of caries activity, providing insights into the ecological mechanisms underlying dental caries and contributing to the development of personalized prevention and treatment strategies.