Original scientific paper
Salivary Nitric Oxide as Biomarker of Caries Risk in Children
Dušan S. Šurdilović
; Clinic of Dentistry, Medical School University of Niš, Srbija
Ivana Stojanović
; Instutute of Biochemistry, Medical School University of Niš, Srbija
Mirjana Apostolović
; Clinic of Dentistry, Medical School University of Niš, Srbija
Abstract
Purpose: Dental caries is an infectious process, caused by bacteria, with an increasing incidence in developing countries. The significant factors in caries could be the elements of salivary defense system, i.e. organic and inorganic compounds present in saliva. The last years there has been a growing interest in the role of nitrates and nitrites in protection against oral diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between NO concentration in unstimulated and stimulated saliva of children with low and high caries risk. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 123 children with permanent dentition (the mean age 13.4±0.3). According to DFMT index, the subjects were divided into low (51 subjects) and high caries risk group (72 subjects). Two saliva samples were taken from each subject – unstimulated and stimulated one. Nitric oxide concentration was measured as total nitrates and nitrites by the Griess reaction method. Results: The results of this study show that the presence of NO and its metabolites in saliva of children with natural healthy teeth is significantly higher compared to high risk group, suggesting the protective role of NO in relation to caries. Conclusions: The highly significant increase of nitrates and nitrites in stimulated saliva of high caries risk group could be the host defense response opposing bacterial growth, due to induction of iNOS in salivary glands. The obtained results support the role of NO as modulator of bacterial proliferation and suggest that increased NO production might contribute to lower caries incidence in children.
Keywords
Dental Caries; Caries Detector; Biological Markers
Hrčak ID:
34359
URI
Publication date:
15.3.2009.
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