Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dental caries and levels of salivary albumin in unstimulated saliva of adults between the age group of 18 and 40 years from Chennai with varying caries experience as determined by their Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) scores. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 60 healthy adult subjects with age group between 18 and 40 years. The healthy subjects without any chronic diseases, gingival or periodontal problems were selected. The patients were divided into four groups according to DMFT status as Group 1, DMFT 0; Group2, DMFT 1?5; Group 3, DMFT 6?10; and Group 4, as DMFT above 10. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from each subjects and the salivary albumin levels were estimated using the bromocresol green method (albumin colorimetric test). The obtained data was statistically analysed using one?way ANOVA and Tukey`s Honestly Significant Difference test. Results: The mean salivary albumin levels for the groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were .086 ± .009 mg/ml, .083 ±.006 mg/ml, .070 ± .008 mg/ml and .056 ±.009 mg/ml respectively. There was an increase in incidence of caries with decrease in salivary albumin level. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups except group 1 and 2. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the salivary albumin level and the incidence of dental caries. An increase in incidence of caries with decrease in salivary albumin levels was seen suggestive of its importance in maintenance of tooth integrity.KeywordsCaries; Caries incidence; Dental caries; Salivary albumin; Salivary protein. KeywordsCaries; Caries incidence; Dental caries; Salivary albumin; Salivary protein.
Highlights
Dental caries is a multifactorial microbial disease that is caused by the interactions among acidogenic bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates and various host factors including saliva [1]
A decrease in the mean value of salivary albumin was seen from group 1 to 4.The mean salivary albumin levels for group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 0.086 ±.009, 0.083 ±.006, 0.070 ± .008 and 0.056 ±.009 mg/ml respectively
Group 1, having the highest salivary albumin level followed by group 2, group 3 and group 4 having the least, indicates that there was an increase in the incidence of caries with decrease in the salivary albumin level
Summary
Dental caries is a multifactorial microbial disease that is caused by the interactions among acidogenic bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates and various host factors including saliva [1]. The acidic PRP’s, albumin, histatins and cystatins are multifunctional proteins and are partly responsible in the remineralization capacity of saliva [9]. These proteins are different from the other salivary host defence proteins as they have a specific function in the oral environment i.e. maintenance of homeostasis of supersaturated state of saliva. Studies concerning salivary proteins and dental caries have presented conflicting results [11]
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