A comparison of salivary calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase in 3-5 years old children with severe, moderate caries and Caries free

As suggested by the previous studies, levels of calcium and phosphate in saliva may be related to the susceptibility to dental caries while alkaline phosphatase enzyme may play an important role in the dental caries process. The Objective of present study was to compare the concentrations of salivary calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase enzyme in 3-5 years old children with severe, moderate caries and Caries free in kindergarten in Qazvin in 2011-2012. In this descriptive analytical trial, 75 children were selected aging 3-5 years old and assigned into 3 groups of caries susceptibility: severe Caries (dmft>6), moderate caries (1≤dmft≤6) and no caries (dmft = 0). The salivary samples of children were obtained and subjected to calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase concentration determination. The data were statistically analyzed by means of one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test in three groups. The alkaline phosphatase activity for the severe Caries, moderate and no caries children were 7.88±2.66, 18.44±10.49 and 19.52±13.31 U/lit respectively. ALP activity increased significantly together with increased caries incidence (p<0.0001). However, no significant differences were found among three groups of Caries susceptibility regarding the concentrations of salivary calcium and phosphate ions. Under the study limitations, salivary alkaline phosphatase activity had been increased together with the increased caries scores, however, no significant differences were noted regarding salivary concentrations of calcium and phosphate ions.