Can Fungiform Papillae Predict the Risk of Dental Caries?

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the number of fungiform papillae on the tongue and the occurrence of dental caries in 18-21 year-olds. One hundred and fifteen undergraduate students of K.L.E Society's Institute of Dental Sciences participated in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were selected by simple random sampling. The data on brushing habits, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and taste preferences were collected by a self-administered questionnaire, and the DMFT index of all subjects was recorded by a single examiner. Based on the DMFT index, the individuals were categorised into low caries (0-5), moderate caries (6-9), and high caries (≥10) groups. The fungiform papillae were identified using Brilliant Blue FCF (E133) dye, which was applied on the anterior part of the tongue on a 6mm diameter circular area. The area was photographed with a digital camera, and these photographs were used to quantify the fungiform papillae. In this study we established a relationship between fungiform papillae count and caries experience in different caries groups. Schlagwörter: fungiform papillae, caries experience