Background: This study's aim was to compare the dental biofilm metabolite-profile of caries-active (N=11) or caries-free (N=4) children by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses.
Methods: Samples collected after overnight fasting, with or without a previous glucose rinse, were combined for each child based on the caries status of the site, re-suspended in ethanol and analyzed by GC/MS.
Results: Biofilm from caries-active sites exhibited a different chromatographic profile compared to caries-free sites. Qualitative and quantitative analysis suggested a special cluster of branched alcohols and esters present at substantially higher intensity in biofilms of caries-active sites.
Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that there are metabolites present in the biofilm which have the potential to provide a characteristic metabolomics signature for caries activity.
Keywords: Biomarker; Caries-activity; Dental-caries; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Metabolites.