Exploring the genomic basis of early childhood caries: a pilot study

• Published in: International journal of paediatric dentistry 2018-03, Vol.28 (2), p.217-225
• Main Authors: Ballantine, Jami L., Carlson, Jenna C., Ferreira Zandoná, Andrea G., Agler, Cary, Zeldin, Leslie P., Rozier, Richard Gary, Roberts, Michael W., Basta, Patricia V., Luo, Jason, Antonio‐Obese, Mikafui E., McNeil, Daniel W., Weyant, Robert J., Crout, Richard J., Slayton, Rebecca L., Levy, Steven M., Shaffer, John R., Marazita, Mary L., North, Kari E., Divaris, Kimon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Child, Preschool; Childhood; Children; Chromosome 4; Dental caries; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Dental Caries - genetics; Dentistry; Female; Gene frequency; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genomes; Humans; Male; North Carolina - epidemiology; Original; Pilot Projects; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Prevalence; Saliva; Single-nucleotide polymorphism
• ISSN: 0960-7439; 1365-263X
• DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12344

Objective A genetic component in early childhood caries (ECC) is theorized, but no genome‐wide investigations of ECC have been conducted. This pilot study is part of a long‐term research program aimed to: (1) determine the proportion of ECC variance attributable to the human genome and (2) identify ECC‐associated genetic loci. Methods The study's community‐based sample comprised 212 children (mean age=39 months; range = 30–52 months; males = 55%; Hispanic/Latino = 35%, African‐American = 32%; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry definition of ECC prevalence = 38%). Approximately 2.4 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using DNA purified from saliva. A P