Question

correlation between total antioxidant level and dental caries in adult patients - an in vivo study mithra

Answer 1

The objective of the study is to evaluate the correlations between the physicochemical properties of saliva such as pH, hydration, buffering capacity, total antioxidant level, level of Streptococci mutans and dental caries in adult patients with DMFT>5. Study included 100 healthy adult subjects. Saliva was tested for hydration viscosity, pH of resting saliva, quantity, buffering capacity of stimulated saliva. Level of Streptococcus mutans in saliva was found. Swab collected from caries lesion of patient was inoculated in S-L agar for 24 hrs. Gram staining method identified Streptococcus mutans colonies. Body Mass Index (BMI) of each patient was calculated. Results obtained were statistically analyzed. The total antioxidant level in saliva was significantly higher in the study group than the control group but there was no significant correlation between the number of Streptococci mutans and total antioxidant level. The resting saliva pH and the buffering capacity of the stimulated saliva were statistically significant. From the study it is concluded that TAC of saliva increases with caries activity. pH and buffering capacity of saliva decreases with caries activity, suggesting that these factors play an important role in development of caries.