title: Quantitative assessment of IgA levels in the unstimulated whole saliva of caries-free and caries-active children.
abstract: Saliva is commonly referred to as the blood stream of the oral cavity. It has many functions, one of the major functions being protection of teeth against dental caries. There are many components in saliva, each one having a specific role in the prevention of dental caries. The composition of saliva varies from individual to individual and in the same individual it varies between the glands. The composition of whole saliva, especially when unstimulated, has gained much interest, because it is this which constantly bathes the teeth. The aim of this study was to determine the IgA levels in the unstimulated whole saliva of caries-free and caries-active children aged 3-6 years and to correlate its role in protection of the tooth against dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shifa
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Muthu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amarlal
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rathna Prabhu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides