title: The relationship between salivary IgA levels and dental caries in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to find the relationship between salivary IgA (s-IgA) levels and dental caries in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 children in the age group of 8 to 12 years were selected and divided into two groups. Group I with DMFT score 0 and Group II with DMFT score ≥3. The whole unstimulated s-IgA levels were estimated using ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole s-IgA levels were significantly higher in group II with DMFT score ≥3 as compared with group I with DMFT score 0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an increase in s-IgA levels in caries-active mouth to give protection mechanism against dental caries and the Streptococcus mutans which are active in caries-active mouth. The s-IgA antibodies can play an important role in control of dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, Karnavati School of Dentistry, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. drranadheer@gmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ranadheer
authors.forename: Ullal Anand
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: N Venugopal
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: V Arun Prasad
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides