Evaluation of Salivary Characteristics in Children with and without Early Childhood Caries

Abstract

ECC is a chronic disease of childhood and remains as a major health problem in many developed countries. Several etiological factors were attributed to the development of ECC and salivary characteristics. Genetic characterization of Streptococcus mutans is one of the main etiological agents in initiation and progression. The study identified considerable variations in salivary characteristics such as physical properties, chemical properties and variation in genetic patterns of Streptococcus mutans in children with and without ECC. newlineRecently, many researches were focussed towards salivary proteins at molecular level to know its exact relationship in causing ECC. Inaddition, recent advances in modern molecular biological techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), Ribotyping are utilized to study the S.mutans at genomic level. These techniques of DNA sequencing and analysis are more convienient, providing more advanced and reliable results than cultivation technique. Lately, advances in 16S rRNA gene analysis have made it possible to extensively explore the microbial community and to understand its potential importance in causing the dental caries. Hence this study provided an insight on salivary characeristics and genetic characteristics and its role in ECC. The present study analysed the literature on physical and chemical properties of saliva and found a variation in physical and chemical properties in children with and without ECC. Inaddition, the present study estimated salivary parameters like ph, viscosity, flow rate, calcium, phosphorus, malondialdehyde, protein and found a significant difference between caries free and children with ECC. Further more, the study also identified genetic diversity using DNA profiling and 16srRNA sequencing in children with and without ECC. newline