ABSTRACT
Dental caries is a multifactor disease, affecting people of all ages. Inorganic mineral of serum and saliva can also have protective role in dental caries. This study was carried out to evaluate and compare the possible role of salivary and serum factors like pH, adequate level of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in dental caries. A Total of 100 subjects aged 10-40 were selected. Decayed, missed and filled teeth [DMFT] were used as indices for scoring the dental caries and were distributed or divided into 4 groups on the basis of DMFT indices as 4-8 [Group I], 9-16 [Group II], 17-24 [Group III] and more than 25 [Group IV], while the control subjects had DMFT index equal to or less than 3 BH, calcium phosphate, fluoride and lactic acid were analyzed in saliva and serum. Patients of dental caries showed significantly low levels of calcium, phosphate, fluoride [P<0.001] and significantly high level of lactic acid [P<0.001] in all the groups as compared to control subjects. Prominent significant changes were observed in different groups. The salivary and serum pH, calcium, fluoride, phosphate and lactic levels were found to be significantly changed among the patients having dental caries. It can be concluded from the findings of present study that the adequate levels of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in saliva as well as serum are responsible for the significant deposition of these minerals in plaque which greatly reduces the developmental caries in the adjacent enamel