ISSN 0970 - 4388
Relation of salivary inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase to the dental caries status in children. GANDHY Ma, DAMLE S Gb
ABSTRACT The phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity in saliva max; be related to the susceptibility to dental caries. Thirty children in the age group of 4-6 years were divided into 3 groups, Group 1, children had rampant caries with dfs> 10, group 2- dfs>5 <10, group3 caries free with dfs
Key Words : Alkaline phosphatase, Dental caries, Salivary Inorganic phosphatase
INTRODUCTION The oral cavity is a distinctive ecosystem, which performs a wide range of functions, harbours a plethora of microorganisms and is unique in accommodating exposed mineralized tissues. The saliva that bathes this ecosystem possesses a large number of components that have been identified as protecting the teeth against caries. Saliva consists of various organic and inorganic components like buffers, calcium and phosphate 1,2 ions to maintain saturation of saliva . Alkaline phosphatase is a non-specific enzyme that reacts between pH 9-10 and is 3 associated with the calcification process. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the relationship between inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels in saliva of children showing varied caries rate.
MATERIALS AND METHOD 30 children in the age group between 4-6 years who reported to our department were selected for the study and divided 4 into 3 groups of 10 each depending on the caries rate namely Rampant caries Group 1 dfs > 10, Group 2 dfs >5 and <10 and Caries free Group 3 dfs < 1. Both sexes were included and an informed consent from the parents was taken prior to the commencement of the study. Precautions were taken to exclude all children suffering from oral afflictions, acute systemic and metabolic diseases e.g. osteitis deformans, rickets and hyperparathyroidism where the alkaline phosphatase levels are increased. Also, children suffering from
scurvy, severe anaemia and achondroplasia were not included 3,5 as they showed decreased levels of alkaline phosphatase. 2ml of unstimulated saliva were collected in a 5ml disposable 6 syringe and sent for biochemical assay . Kind and Armstrong method was used to determine alkaline phosphatase levels in which disodium phenyl phosphate was used as a substrate and the end product was a brown-pink colour. The readings 3 were taken by a spectrophotometer at 540nM . Inorganic phosphorus levels were determined using Bartlett method and the blue colour estimated colorimetrically using a 5,7 spectrophotometer at 660nM.
RESULTS A group wise distribution revealed that the mean dfs of group 1 (Rampant caries) was 19.5, group 2 was 5.4 and group 3 was 0.1. A significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (4.36 I.U.) was found in the children of group 1 as compared to group 3 (1.41 I.U.). Inorganic phosphorus levels too were significantly higher in group 1 showing 26.33 mg% compared to group 3 showing 14.22 mg% (Table 1) while the graph 1,2,3 shows a representation of the variables.
DISCUSSION The etiological factors related to caries were put forth by Keyes in 1960 in the form of a triad. Saliva was latter introduced as an additional factor that may contribute to caries formation. The maintenance of equilibrium between demineralization and remineralisation depends on the ionic concentration of calcium and phosphate in saliva which in turn is influenced by alkaline 8,9 phosphatase levels. Variations in alkaline phosphatase levels causes changes in phosphate levels which lead to initiation and progress of caries. Hence, this study was carried out to study the relation of alkaline phosphatase and inorganic phosphorus with respect to dfs index. The main findings of the present study show that the saliva collected from children with rampant caries contain higher levels of alkaline phosphatase and inorganic phosphorus compared to the saliva collected from caries free children. This study is in agreement with the study carried out by Pandey 610 et al in 1990 and Maijer R, Klassen G.A. in 1972. However, Mandel (1974) found identical levels in saliva in both caries resistant and caries-susceptible persons while L. Shaw (1983)
Relation of salivary inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase to dental caries
Table 1 : Group wise distribution of the variables
Relation of salivary inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase to dental caries
? Group 1 ? Group 2 Group 3
Relation of salivary inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase to dental caries
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