To evaluate the change of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. counts after all dental treatments were completed under general anesthesia and compare the groups in case of using probiotics and not using probiotics with the time for 6-months follow-up period.

Fifthy-eight pediatric patients without any systemical diseases whose dental treatments were completed under general anesthesia were included in the study. The study was carried out as two-groups; Group A: Patients who started using probiotics after general anesthesia and Group B: Patients who did not use probiotics after general anesthesia. The counts of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) by analysis of saliva samples taken from all patients on the day before the general anesthesia (T0), at 1-month (T1), 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-up periods. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Every included child had at least 8 tooth with caries.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who would not be able to give saliva samples due to high anxiety or lack of saliva were not included in this study.

After the study is published, it can be sent to the individual upon reasonable request.

The outcome assessment was performed by a different researcher who was unaware of the group distributions in which patients were included.