Dental Caries, Severe Early Childhood Caries
Conditions
Brief summary
This observational study aims to evaluate the relationship between salivary antimicrobial peptides and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in Turkish children. Severe early childhood caries is a multifactorial disease influenced by microbial, environmental, and host-related factors. Salivary antimicrobial peptides play an important role in the innate immune defense of the oral cavity and may influence susceptibility to dental caries. In this cross-sectional study, salivary samples were collected from children diagnosed with S-ECC and from caries-free controls. Clinical dental examinations were performed to assess caries status. The levels of selected salivary antimicrobial peptides were measured and compared between groups to determine potential associations. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the role of salivary immune components in the development of severe early childhood caries.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Bezmialem Vakif University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Case Group (S-ECC): * Preschool children aged 3-6 years * In the primary dentition period * No previous history of dental treatment * Diagnosis of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) defined as: dmft ≥4 at age 3, dmft ≥5 at age 4, dmft ≥6 at age 5 * Systemically healthy children * Turkish ethnicity * Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians Control Group: * Preschool children aged 3-6 years * In the primary dentition period * No previous history of dental treatment * Caries-free children (dmft = 0) * No history of fillings or tooth extraction due to caries * Systemically healthy children * Turkish ethnicity * Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians
Exclusion criteria
* Use of medications affecting salivary flow within the last 3 months (e.g., antimuscarinic agents, antihypertensives, antidepressants) * Presence of systemic or local diseases affecting salivary secretion (e.g., diabetes, salivary gland infections, salivary gland stones, neurological disorders) * Lack of parental/legal guardian consent * Inability to cooperate during saliva sample collection * Presence of chronic systemic diseases * History of chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Salivary LL-37 Level | At single visit (baseline) | Quantitative level of LL-37 measured in unstimulated saliva samples and compared between children with S-ECC and caries-free controls. |
| Salivary hBD-3 Level | At a single visit (baseline) | Quantitative level of human beta-defensin 3 (hBD-3) measured in unstimulated saliva samples and compared between children with S-ECC and caries-free controls. |
| Salivary HST-5 Level | At a single visit (baseline) | Quantitative level of histatin-5 (HST-5) measured in unstimulated saliva samples and compared between children with S-ECC and caries-free controls. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus mutans Levels | At single visit (baseline) | Quantitative assessment of Streptococcus mutans levels in saliva samples and comparison between study groups. |
| Candida albicans Levels | At single visit (baseline) | Quantitative assessment of Candida albicans levels in saliva samples and comparison between children with severe early childhood caries and caries-free controls. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed