BACKGROUND

Recent studies have implicated a direct relation between dental caries and salivary total antioxidant level (TAL), which can be suggested as an indicator (either harmful or protective) for susceptibility of individuals for dental caries.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the total antioxidant level (TAL) in unstimulated saliva of children, and to correlate the TAL with caries experience and BMI (body mass index).

METHODS

60 children, aged 6-12 yrs, were randomly selected for the study. Two groups were made (study group n=30 and control group n=30), and subdivisions based on gender were made out of both groups [male (n=15) and female (n=15)]. In control group, subjects with no dental caries and study group, subjects having decayed teeth score ≥4 were included.

METHODS

Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 21). Shapiro - Wilks test showed that TAL (absorbance) did not follow normal distribution. Hence, for comparison between cases and control for TAL non-parametric test namely Mann- Whitney U test was applied.

RESULTS

Statistically significant strong positive correlation was seen between age and TAL (P< 0.05).