Dental caries and total antioxidant status of unstimulated mixed whole saliva in patients aged 16–23 years

Abstract

The purpose of the studies performed was an attempt to establish a potential relationship between total antioxidant status of unstimulated whole saliva, patients' ages, oral hygiene status and dental caries. The study involved 120 non-smokers. Mean age of the study subjects was 18.40 ± 1.74 years. Clinical examination was performed to evaluate the state of hard and soft oral tissues, and oral hygiene status. Additionally, biochemical tests and statistical studies were carried out. Laboratory examinations involved measuring the total antioxidant status level in supernatant using the Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) test from Randox. In statistical analysis, Spearman Rang correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann - Whitney test, logistic regression and ROC curve were used. The analysis was conducted using Statistica 9 software. Mean D, M, F and DMFT values were 4.04 ± 3.96; 0.09 ± 0.34; 5.00 ± 3.90; 9.05 ± 5.30, respectively. Mean OHI - S was 0.95 ± 0.76. Mean TAS value in the studied population was 0.82 ± 0.26 mmol/l. In the group of subjects without active dental caries, the level of the total antioxidant potential was higher, with a value of 0.89 ± 0.16 mmol/l, and in the study group subjects who had tooth decay it was 0.80 ± 0.28 mmol/l. It was found that TAS was higher in younger subjects. The conducted studies seem to allow for the following conclusions:TAS level in the supernatant of unstimulated whole saliva decreases with age; TAS level in the supernatant of unstimulated whole saliva is the highest in patients without caries, and the oral hygiene status does not have significant influence on TAS.