Carbonic anhydrase VI activity in saliva and biofilm can predict early childhood caries: A preliminary study.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate whether carbonic anhydrase VI activity (CA VI(ACT) ), pH, and buffering capacity (BC) in saliva and biofilm could predict the number of lesion occurrence and early childhood caries (ECC). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in a sample of 44 children aged 4 to 5 years who were examined regarding their caries status (dmfs + active white spot lesions-WSL) and allocated into two groups: ECC and caries-free (CF). Saliva and biofilm were collected to determine pH, BC, and CA VI(ACT) . Data were analyzed using the Student t test, and multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses followed by the ROC curve. RESULTS: Children with ECC exhibited lower pH and BC in saliva and a higher CA VI(ACT) in both saliva and biofilm. Only saliva pH could predict the dmfs + active WSL. In biofilm, if CA VI(ACT) is increased by one pixel/microg, 0.85 +/- 0.28 increase is expected in the number of active WSL. Salivary pH and CA VI(ACT) in saliva and biofilm had the power to predict ECC occurrence. CONCLUSION: Changes in saliva pH and CA VI(ACT) in biofilm predicted the number of lesion occurrence. Furthermore, CA VI(ACT) in both saliva and biofilm can predict propensity for ECC.