Microbial, Biochemical & Immunological Assessment of Dental Caries

Author(s):

Devarasa Giriyapura Murugeshappa, Swarna Yerebairapura Math, Dheeraj Kalra, Pramod Redder Chandrappa* and Deepak Gowda Sadashivappa Pateel

Introduction: Dental caries is a localized, pathological infectious process that ends up in the destruction of hard dental tissue. Among the factors that have been related to greater cariogenic activity, a high concentration in the mouth of bacteria with acidophilic activity (Streptococci mutans & Lactobacillus) is of greatest importance. There is some limited evidence about the role of salivary secretory immunoglobulin’s and proteins in the prevention of dental caries. Methodology: The study included a sample size of 70 subjects equally divided into Group I (caries active individuals) and Group II (caries free individuals). Stimulated saliva was collected to assess the levels of mutant’s streptococci and Lactobacillus count, while unstimulated saliva was collected to assess the levels of salivary total proteins and salivary secretory IgA. Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v 22.0, IBM). The data of colony counts were analyzed with non-parametric testing of hypothesis, using Mann Whitney test. Inter group comparison of variables like salivary secretory IgA and salivary proteins were done using independent t test Result: There was a statistically highly significant difference and correlation seen between the means of various variables like DMF score, salivary mutant’s streptococci, salivary Lactobacilli, salivary IgA and salivary proteins. (p<0.01), Conclusion: Although the results of the study points towards the positive correlation of dental caries with salivary total proteins and negative correlation with salivary IgA, further extensive studies with larger sample size is required with indepth analysis of individual proteins and species specific IgA to understand their exact role in dental caries.