Comparative Evaluation of Salivary Total Proteins in Deciduous and Permanent Dentition

Human saliva plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of oral tissues. Its composition changes during childhood due to maturation of the salivary glands indicating the need of age-matched controls for the clinical use of saliva as a diagnostic tool for diseases. This study aims at analyzing physiologic variability of naturally occurring total protein concentration in unstimulated whole saliva of children as a function of age. For this study unstimulated whole saliva specimens were collected from 20 healthy children equally divided into Primary (3 - 5 years), Permanent (12 18yrs) dentition age groups. The samples were studied for total protein content by light chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The total protein content showed a linear increase with age. Thus this study establishes a correlation between age and salivary composition hence constructing a comprehensive catalogue which forms the basis for salivary total proteins with newer biochemical aids necessary for saliva to serve as a diagnostic aid.