European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a chronic disease of childhood affecting the primary
dentition. ECC begin early in life and can affect the quality of life of child. It is also termed
as nursing caries or baby bottle tooth decay. It has a multifactorial etiology and salivary
parameters are considered as one of the important etiological factors of ECC. The present
study was done to determine the level of salivary calcium and phosphorus in children with
ECC, severe ECC and caries free. The main objective of the study is to determine the
correlation between calcium and phosphorus level and to compare it with the three groups
of children with different caries experience.
Materials and Methods:
It is a cross-sectional observational study conducted at Saveetha Dental college and
Hospitals. Children between 3-6 years were examined and 20 caries free, 20 children with
ECC and 20 children with Severe ECC were recruited for the study. The examination and
sample collection were done by a single qualified Pediatric dentist. The samples were
collected and analysed for salivary calcium and Phosphorus.
Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant differences in salivary
calcium and phosphorus levels among caries free, ECC and Severe ECC children.
Conclusion:
1. There was a significant difference in salivary calcium levels among caries free,
ECC and Severe ECC children
2. There is a significant difference in salivary phosphorus level among caries free,
moderate ECC and Severe ECC children