Estimation of Trace Elements in Mixed Saliva of Caries Free and Caries Active Children.

OBJECTIVE: Composition of saliva plays an important role in defining the dental caries risk for an individual. The role of trace elements present in saliva on dental caries is still not clear. Thus this study was designed to evaluate the effect of certain salivary trace elements like copper, potassium, fluoride, selenium and lead on the caries experience of children. STUDY DESIGN: 60 subjects in the age group of 3-15 years were selected and divided into two groups, caries active and caries free. 5 ml of unstimulated saliva from each subject was collected and analyzed for the levels of trace elements using Induced Couple Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). RESULTS: Copper and Fluoride levels were significantly higher in caries free as compared to caries active individuals whereas Lead was significantly higher in caries active as compared to caries free children (p-value<0.05). Potassium and Selenium though present in appreciable amounts did not show any significant difference between the two groups (p-value>0.05). CONCLUSION: In caries free subjects, copper and fluoride levels were significantly higher while the level of lead was lower as compared to caries-active children. Potassium and selenium did not show any significant differences within the two groups.