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

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).

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.

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/µg, 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.

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.