title: Relationship among α amylase and carbonic anhydrase VI in saliva, visible biofilm, and early childhood caries: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This longitudinal study investigated the relationship among early childhood caries (ECC), α amylase, carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI), and the presence of visible biofilm, besides detecting if these variables could predict risk for ECC.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred children were divided into two groups: caries group (n = 45) and caries-free group (n = 55). Visible biofilm on maxillary incisors was recorded, followed by caries diagnosis in preschoolers at baseline and at follow-up. Saliva samples were collected, and activities of CA VI and α amylase were determined. Data normality was assessed by Shapiro-Wilk test and then Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation, and chi-square tests followed by multiple logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05, 95% confidence interval).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CA VI activity was significantly higher in saliva of children with caries (P ≤ 0.05), and α amylase activity was significantly higher in saliva of caries-free children (P < 0.0001). Children with α amylase activity in saliva lower than 122.8 U/mL (OR = 3.33 P = 0.042) and visible biofilm on maxillary incisors (OR = 3.6 P = 0.009) were more likely to develop ECC than caries-free children. A negative correlation between caries and α amylase activity was found (P = 0.0008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of visible biofilm and low salivary activity of α amylase may be considered risk predictors for ECC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lívia P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lenita M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Sao Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Parisotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steiner-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marinês
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobre-Dos-Santos
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology*; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases; C477051:carbonic anhydrase VI