title: Evaluation of total antioxidant level of saliva in modulation of caries occurrence and progression in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have implicated a direct relation between dental caries and salivary total antioxidant level (TAL), which can be suggested as an indicator (either harmful or protective) for susceptibility of individuals for dental caries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the total antioxidant level (TAL) in unstimulated saliva of children, and to correlate the TAL with caries experience and BMI (body mass index).
  
  
  METHODS
  60 children, aged 6-12 yrs, were randomly selected for the study. Two groups were made (study group n=30 and control group n=30), and subdivisions based on gender were made out of both groups [male (n=15) and female (n=15)]. In control group, subjects with no dental caries and study group, subjects having decayed teeth score ≥4 were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 21). Shapiro - Wilks test showed that TAL (absorbance) did not follow normal distribution. Hence, for comparison between cases and control for TAL non-parametric test namely Mann- Whitney U test was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant strong positive correlation was seen between age and TAL (P< 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Naveen Reddy
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Banda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Markam
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants