Salivary peptide profile and its association with early childhood caries
Thyciana Rodrigues Ribeiro1, Karl J Dria, Cibele Barreto Mano de Carvalho
1Department of Clinical Dentistry, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Background:
As dietary management during early childhood is a great barrier in caries control, there is a need for the identification of intrinsic risk factors, capable of allowing the use of a more cost-effective approach to early childhood caries (ECC).
Objective:
To evaluate the salivary peptide profile of children with and without ECC and its association with caries experience.
Methods:
One hundred and six 10- to 71-month-old children participated in the study. Caries experience was determined through the visual/tactile method, based on the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, and surface scores (dmft/dmfs). Whole saliva was collected for mutans streptococci (MS) detection and peptide analysis.
Results:
Chromatograms from CF (children without caries experience, n = 58) and CE (children with caries experience, n = 48) saliva pools expressed different patterns. Identification of molecular masses suggested the presence of nine peptides. Three of them were significantly related with caries experience. HNP-3 (α-defensin 3) (P = 0.019) and HBD-3 (β-defensin 3) (P = 0.034) reduced the chances of experiencing ECC. Proline-rich peptides IB-4 significantly increased caries experience (P = 0.035). Age (P = 0.020) and MS counts (P = 0.036) increased caries experience; however, gender was not associated with dental caries (P = 0.877).
Conclusion:
Specific salivary peptides of CF or CE children in early childhood predispose to a higher or lower risk of caries experience.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
The Oral Microbiota
Salivary Glands and Saliva
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...


