Comparison of Microbial Activity Among Infants With or Without Using Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding Appliance

Purpose: The aim of the current study is as follows: (1) to study whether wearing the presurgical nasoalveolar molding appliance (PNAM) had facilitated the establishment of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus (LB) and to determine other factors including pH and caries susceptibility associated with wearing the PNAM. Methods: Saliva samples of 61 infants (4.5 ± 2.06 months old) were collected from the following 3 groups: PNAM (n = 23), healthy (n = 30), and cleft lip and palate (CLP) without any treatment (n = 8). Saliva samples were assessed using selective agar to enumerate total LB and S mutans and subjected to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven bioluminescence determinations using a luciferin-based assay system, and pH level was evaluated. One-way analysis of variance with least significant difference post hoc test (P < .05) and Pearson correlation were used to evaluate S mutans, LB, pH, and ATP levels. Results: A total of 63 patients (30 healthy patients, 23 patients with cleft lip/palate who had PNAM appliance and 8 patients with cleft lip/palate who did not use the appliance) were seen in this study. There is a significant difference in pH (P = .012), LB Caries Risk Test (P < .001), LB colony count (P < .001), S mutans Caries Risk Test (P < .001), and S mutans colony count (P < .001) among the 3 groups (PNAM > CLP > healthy). The ATP level was not significantly different among the 3 groups. Conclusion: Higher bacterial count and lower pH were found in the PNAM group. Cleft lip and/or palate patients wearing the PNAM appliance are at higher risk for dental caries.