[Caries risk estimation in children regarding values of saliva buffer system components and carboanhydrase activity].
OBJECTIVE
One of the preconditions for efficacious systematic reduction of caries prevalence and prophylaxis is the determination of risks of this disease appearance. The aim of this study was to prove the significance of salivary carboanhydrase activity determination in estimation of caries risk in children.


METHODS
The study included 123 children of average age of 13.4+/-0.3 years and permanent dentition. The children were divided into two groups according to caries risk (low and high caries risk groups). Two samples of saliva--unstimulated and stimulated one were taken from each child. Salivary carboanhydrase activity, as well as pH value, bicarbonate and phosphate buffer levels were estimated in both group of saliva samples.


RESULTS
The investigation showed significantly higher carboanhydrase activity (p < 0.001) in both saliva samples in low caries risk group compared to high caries risk one. In children with low caries risk, both unstimulated and stimulated saliva show significantly higher bicarbonate and phosphate buffer concentrations (p < 0.001), as well as pH values.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower caries incidence could be expected in children with high carboanhydrase activity and higher salivary buffer system parameters levels. The presented results suggest that salivary carboanhydrase activity represents the important marker of individual susceptibility for caries appearance in children.
Surdilović
Dusan
D
Medicinski fakultet, Klinika za stomatologiju, Nis, Srbija. surdilovic@medfak.ni.ac.yu
Stojanović
Ivana
I
Apostolović
Mirjana
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*
D001639:Bicarbonates; D015415:Biomarkers; D010710:Phosphates; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases