title: Relation of salivary calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase with the incidence of dental caries in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess possible relationship of Calcium, Phosphorus and Alkaline-phophatase levels in saliva with incidence of caries in child patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n=75) attending Department of Pedodontics, St. Joseph Dental college, Eluru, with and without caries were categorized in to Group I: Consisting of 25 children with non-rampant caries, Group II: Consisting of 25 children with rampant caries, Group III: Consisting of 25 children without caries. (Control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  The samples of saliva were collected one week after oral prophylaxis. Unstimulated directly expectorated whole saliva samples were collected in clean, dry, sterilized glass bottles and fitted with proper rubber stoppers immediately. The samples were subjected to biochemical assay for estimation of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alkaline Phosphatase activity for rampant caries group was 18.66 K.A, and control group was 4.68 K.A. The values of alkaline phosphatase activity for minimal caries group was 6.16 KA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saliva could reflect a caries risk situation was supported by the fact that alkaline phosphatase activity was very much significantly higher in caries prone groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, St. Joseph Dental College, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India. drkevknl@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Vijayaprasad
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ravichandra
authors.forename: A A K
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vasa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium