Evaluation of the status of salivary antioxidants in dental caries

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dental caries is one of the most common, communicable and infectious disease worldwide. Oxidative stress may play a role in caries pathogenesis and salivary antioxidants may play a preventive role on dental caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and uric acid in dental caries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 100 healthy students in two female and male (50) groups subdivided to caries active and caries free (25) groups. Un-stimulated whole saliva specimens were collected in the morning. Salivary superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and uric acid were measured by Spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test. RESULTS: The results showed that caries active group had higher peroxidase, uric acid, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and lower superoxide dismutase as compared to caries free group. Comparison between males and females, showed lower peroxidase, catalase, uric acid and higher glutathione peroxidase in female group. CONCLUSION: Caries active group had changed salivary antioxidants levels. So salivary antioxidants may play an important role in caries prevention, formation and progression.