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Quantitative Determination of Inorganic Constituents in Saliva and their Relationship with Dental Caries Experience in Children

S G Damle *,Vidya I,Renu Yadav,Hiteshwar Bhattal,Ashish Loomba

Background: Saliva is one of the most important factor in regulating oral health, with flow rate and composition changing throughout development and during disease. Saliva can affect incidence of dental caries in four general ways, firstly as a mechanical cleansing, secondly by reducing enamel solubility by means of calcium, phosphate and fluoride, thirdly by buffering and neutralizing the acids produced by cariogenic organisms and finally by anti-bacterial activity. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), proteins, calcium, inorganic phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase levels in caries free and caries active children.

Material and methods: Forty school children in the age group of 12-15 years with full complement of permanent dentition except third molars were included by stratified random sampling method. They were divided into two groups of 20 each based on DMFS score, Group I – Caries free (DMFS score=0) and Group II – Caries active (DMFS score ≥ 10). Unstimulated midmorning saliva samples were collected and analyzed colorimetrically and by radial immunodiffusion method for constituents of saliva under study.

Results: The mean salivary IgA levels in children in Group-I (caries free children) was 10.63±2.85 mg/dl which was statistically higher as compared to caries active children in Group-II (8.50 ± 1.43 mg/dl). The mean salivary protein level in children of Group-II was statistically higher at 3.28 ± 0.12 mg/dl as compared to Group-I (2.89 ± 0.11 mg/dl).

Conclusion: An inverse relationship was noticed between the salivary IgA levels and dental caries experience and higher salivary protein levels were associated with high caries experience whereas no significant difference was observed in levels of calcium, inorganic phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase and IgG in saliva samples of children with and without dental caries.