Comparison of the Salivary Immu-noglobulin Concentration Levels between Children with Early Childhood Caries and Caries-Free Children

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is one of the most common chronic child-hood diseases. In spite of the global decrease in dental caries in the past decades, ECC has become a significant problem in many developing countries and also in a few indus-trialized nations. Saliva as a host factor can play an important role in the process of den-tal caries. <br/><b>Objective</b>: The aim of this study was to compare sIgA and IgG as saliva components between ECC and caries-free groups. <br/><b>Methods</b>: In this cross-sectional study, samples of unstimulated saliva of 90 children (45 in ECC group & 45 in caries-free group) were taken with Scully method. Then the concentration levels of sIgA and IgG were measured with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Single Radial Im-munodiffusion methods. <br/><b>Results</b>: Mean concentration levels of salivary sIgA and IgG were significantly higher among children with ECC (p<0.05). There was also a weak inverse correlation between sIgA level and DMFT index in ECC group but it was not statistically significant (p=0.056). <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: The high concentration of salivary im-munoglobulin in children with ECC may be associated with an increased antigenic load, leading to high production of antibodies.