title: Evaluation of total antioxidant capacity of saliva and serum in caries-free and caries-active adults: an in-vivo study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense systems which are widely recognized as an important feature of many diseases including dental caries, suggesting that total antioxidant status may be of importance in determining the progression of caries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in saliva and serum of caries-free and caries-active adults and to correlate the TAC level with DMFT index (D = decayed, M = missing, F = filled, T = teeth).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study included 100 healthy adults who were divided into four groups: Control, group I, group II, and group III, with a DMFT index 0, <3, <10, and >10, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva and serum samples were collected from all the four groups. The TAC of saliva and serum was estimated by phosphomolybdenum method.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the TAC of saliva and serum. Only differences with "P" < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean TAC level of both saliva and serum increased significantly (P < 0.001) with the DMFT index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total antioxidant capacity of saliva has a linear relation with caries, i.e., as the severity of caries increases, the TAC level also increases.
authors: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A.B.S.M.I.D.S, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Mithra N
authors: MN
authors: Hegde
authors: Nidarsh D
authors: ND
authors: Hegde
authors: Aparna
authors: A
authors: Ashok
authors: Shilpa
authors: S
authors: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008875:Middle Aged; D008982:Molybdenum; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008982:Molybdenum; C003125:phosphomolybdic acid