Abstract

ASSOCIATION OF SALIVARY CALCIUM, INORGANIC PHOSPHOROUS AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE LEVELS IN RELATION TO DENTAL CARIES STATUS- A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

*Dr. Sachu Philip, Dr. C. Rahila and Dr. Shamyuktha Krishnamurthy

Abstract

Dental caries is a complex multifactorial disease. Saliva plays a central role in the maintenance of oral homeostasis and its constituents influence the development of dental caries. Aim of our study was to assess the association of salivary calcium, inorganic phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase levels in relation to dental caries status. The study was carried out on 50 subjects with dental caries experience and 50 subjects without caries experience based on DMFS score and analyzed for calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase using gold standard methods. In our study the mean Alkaline Phosphatase(ALP) level in caries subjects was found to be statistically higher compared to caries free subjects and also a statistically significant positive correlation was established with ALP and caries status. Saliva is a clinically informative, body fluid and can be obtained non invasively offers its utility as a diagnostic tool.

Keywords: Dental caries, Saliva, Alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorous.