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Association of dental caries and salivary sIgA with tobacco smoking
Author(s) -
Golpasand Hagh L,
Zakavi F,
Ansarifar S,
Ghasemzadeh O,
Solgi G
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/adj.12059
Subject(s) - medicine , saliva , secretory iga , dentistry , immune system , immunology
Background Salivary secretory IgA ( sIgA ) is said to play an important role in the immune response against dental caries. This study aimed to determine the salivary sIgA levels in healthy smokers and non‐smokers, and its correlation with dental caries. Methods A total of 70 healthy subjects were selected and classified into four groups according to dental caries and tobacco smoking habits: smoking with caries (Group 1, n = 15); smoking without caries (Group 2, n = 15); non‐smoking with caries (Group 3, n = 15); and non‐smoking without caries (Group 4, n = 25). Salivary sIgA was measured using ELISA. The fissure and proximal caries were examined clinically and radiographically. Caries status was determined according to the decay surface index. Results Smokers showed a higher number of caries and the lowest concentration of sIgA . The highest levels of sIgA were observed in non‐smoking and caries‐free subjects compared to caries‐active smokers (123.2 ± 19.9 vs. 13.3 ± 4.1 μg/ml respectively, p < 0.001). Also, the mean level of sIgA in Group 4 was significantly higher than Group 3 (p = 0.009). More importantly, higher and significant levels of sIgA were found in Group 3 versus Group 1 (p < 0.0001) and Group 2 (p = 0.0004). Conclusions Our findings indicate that low concentrations of salivary sIgA are correlated with a higher prevalence of dental caries in smokers.