Jorge Sanhueza; Luis Bustos; Nelia Rodríguez; Evelyn Borie-Echeverria & Paulo Salinas

Dental caries corresponds to an ecological and non-contagious, dynamic and chronic disease of multifactorial origin; currently there is evidence of how genetic factors could be included as predisposing agents to suffer it, however this evidence is diverse and incipient. a cross-sectional study was p erformed to investigate the possible associations of DSPP (rs36094464), RUNX2 (rs566712) and KLK4 (rs198968) polymorphisms in early childhood caries. Saliva samples of children (2-11years old) were collected and genotyped for DSPP (rs36094464), RUNX2 (rs566712) and KLK4 (rs198968) polymorphisms. Through the ceft index their caries history was determined and the gene variants were students through molecular biology techniques. polymorphisms of the DSSP (rs36094464) and RUNX2 (rs566712) are associated and contribute to the susceptibility of dental caries disease in early childhood, as they are related to their history of caries. KLK4 (rs198968) polymorphisms are not associated. In conclusions, the studied polymorphisms on DSSP and RUNX2 genes are associated with changes in the tooth microarchitecture, favoring the appearance of microlesions that would contribute to dental caries disease susceptibility in early childhood. Also, no association was found for the studied polymorphism of the KLK4 gene with dental caries disease susceptibility.

KEY WORDS: Caries; Childhood; Polymorphisms; DSPP; RUNX2

SANHUEZA, J.; BUSTOS, L.; RODRÍGUEZ, N.; BORIE-ECHEVERRIA, E. & SALINAS, P. Polymorphisms in DSSP (rs36094464) and RUNX2 (rs566712) genes contribute to the susceptibility of dental caries in childhood. Int. J. Morphol., 39(3):802-808, 2021.