Abstract
salivary glands, which in turn influence susceptibility to dental caries and gingival disease. The aims of this study were to assess the salivary antioxidants (vitamin A, C and E) levels as well as total protein and their relation to caries severity and gingival health status among mal- and well-nourished children. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 60 children and they divided according to nutritional status (30 malnourished and 30 well nourished). The 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts was used for assessment of nutritional status (height for age). The age was five years old. Caries severity (d1-4s) was assessed according to Muhlemann (1976). Dental plaque recorded following the criteria described by Sillness and Loe (1964). The gingival index (GI) was used according to Loe and Sillness criteria (1963). Stimulated whole saliva samples were collected and chemically analyzed by using colorimetric method to determine the salivary antioxidants (vitamin A, C and E) and total protein. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 18. Results: Results recorded a higher mean value of dmfs among malnourished in comparison to well nourished with statistically highly significant difference (P< 0.001). According to grades of lesion severity, d4 was significantly the higher among malnourished children (P< 0.001). Strong highly significant correlations were noticed between ds, dmfs and PI among malnourished and well nourished children. Significantly lower values of vitamins and total protein were noticed among malnourished children compared to well nourished (P< 0.001). Negative highly significant correlations were found with all vitamins among malnourished children regarding caries-experience and GI. Conclusion: Childhood chronic malnutrition (stunting) is associated with salivary hypofunction. This may act as a risk factor for dental caries and gingival disease in the target group.
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