Saliva screening for bacterial and immunological factors in childhood dental caries of a Middle Eastern population: An empidemiological survey.

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Early childhood caries is a multifactorial disease whereby saliva plays a very important role. It is the first line of defense against oral infections and its composition reflects processes going on in the organism. This study screened the type, severity and distribution of dental caries in 1265 children, 3 to 5 years-old, and their association with demographic, microbiological and immunological parameters. A hundred children were selected for further laboratory analysis. Results showed that 90% of the children did have dental caries including decays, missing, filling or surface caries. Bacteriological tests exhibited 82.5% with medium to high counts of strepmutants and 46.5% lactobacillus. The rest had low to very low values. The buffering capacity of saliva was high in 60% compared to a moderate capacity in 40%. Such a capacity was lower in children with caries, i.e. more acidic. The secretory IgA levels in saliva were lower in children with caries (332.75 units) compared to normal (525.75 units). Further analysis of the data is being performed including demographic variables.