Analysis of ENAM gene single-nucleotide polymorphism rs3796704 with caries susceptibility in young adult Tamil population

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is as primeval as humanity, but still, investigations are undergoing regarding the etiopathogenesis behind this multifactorial disease. Genetics is known to play a vital role in the etiology behind dental caries in addition to environmental and socioeconomic factors. Genetic variations like single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were extensively studied in the past decade to portray the etiopathogenesis contributing to dental caries. AIM: This investigation was undertaken to analyze the ENAM gene SNP rs3796704 with caries susceptibility in ethnic young adult Tamil population of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 370 patients included, 215 patients belonged to the high caries group (Decayed, Missing and Filled Tooth [DMFT] ≥2) and 155 patients belonged to the low caries group (DMFT ≤ 1). DNA was extracted from the blood of all the individuals. SNP genotyping was performed utilizing tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction with specific primers. RESULTS: The genotyping results showed that there were no differences in allelic (P = 0.114) and genotypic frequencies (P = 0.159) between the high caries and low caries groups. CONCLUSION: Future studies can be conducted in larger samples and different ethnicities around the globe to analyze the role played by SNPs of enamel formation genes in cariogenesis.