Comparative Analysis Of Oral Microbiota In Children With Different Dentition

To analyze the composition of oral microbiota in preschool children with deciduous dentition and mixed dentition, and to explore the characteristics and age-related changes of oral microbial communities during different dentition periods. Third-generation sequencing based on 16S rRNA technology was performed on saliva samples from 4 children with deciduous dentition (aged 3–4 years) and 4 children in the mixed dentition period (aged 5 years 6 months to 5 years 11 months). The composition and differences in oral microbiota between the two groups were compared. The Faith-PD index of alpha diversity showed a marginally significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.083). Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct microbial community structures between the two groups. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes (LDA=4.02,P=0.02) and Mogibacterium (LDA=3.94,P= 0.038) were more abundant in the deciduous dentition group. At the genus level, Prevotella (LDA=3.79,P=0.02) and Veillonellales (LDA = 4.48,P=0.02) were enriched in the deciduous dentition group, whereas Selenomonadales (LDA=4.09,P=0.02) was more abundant in the mixed dentition group. Functional potential analysis indicated that oral microbiota in both dentition periods were primarily involved in biosynthesis, degradation/utilization/assimilation, precursor metabolite generation, and energy production. The composition of oral microbiota varies between different dentition stages, and as children age and their dentition changes, the structure and diversity of oral microbial communities also undergo significant shifts.