Association of AMELX gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Streptococcus mutans and Dental Caries in a Group of Egyptian Children (Case Control Study)

Background: Dental caries is a complex illness. Researches have proposed that the existence of genetic variants in the formation of enamel and their interaction with Streptococcus mutans could result in caries. Purpose: To determine the relationship between a group of Egyptian children's caries susceptibility and a specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the AMELX gene and Streptococcus mutans. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 54 children aged 4 to 6 who had deciduous teeth had their rs17878486 in the AMELX gene examined. Children are divided into two groups: Group A, which includes children with dental caries, and Group B, which does not include any dental caries. Saliva and oral swab samples were gathered for microbiological and molecular analysis. Rs17878486, an SNP marker, was genotyped. Results Group A had a significantly more streptococcus mutans count than Group B. Dental caries and the TT genotype for rs17878486 in AMELX were positively correlated in statistically significant ways. The mutant TT genotype in group A (18.5%) was significantly more than that in group B (0%), according to a comparison of the two groups. Group B (control) had 59.26% of the C allele, a significantly higher allele frequency than group A (patients), which had 44.4%. The Streptococcus mutans count and the CT and CC genotypes significantly correlated in both groups. Conclusions The AMELX gene's rs17878486 marker SNP could be among the factors that put Egyptian children at risk for dental cavities