Identification, Quantification and Correlation of Hydrogen Peroxide Present in Saliva to Early Childhood Caries: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Aim: The main objective of the present study was to estimate the production of hydrogen peroxide present in saliva and correlate it to early childhood caries using high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] method. Design: The study was conducted on children aged 3–6 years with a sample size of 20 who had decayed, missing, or filled teeth in accordance to WHO pro forma and were divided into two groups: Study group: Caries active [CA][n = 10] and Control group caries free [CF] [n = 10]. The whole saliva was collected into the vials with a buffer solution and was stored in cold storage. HPLC was done to estimate, detect, and correlate the amount of production of H2O2 in CA and CF groups. To compare age and gender distribution among two groups, Independent student “t“ test was used. To compare the mean production of H2O2 levels between two study groups with a significance of p > 0.05 was done using Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman’s correlation was done between caries and H2O2. Results: Comparison of mean H2O2 levels [in ppm] between groups was statistically significant at p = 0.03, which showed as age increases H2O2 production also increases. Age-wise estimation of H2O2 obtained a statistically significant result [p = 0.04]. However, gender-wise comparison of mean H2O2 levels [in ppm] in both the groups showed no difference. Conclusion: Findings in our study strongly suggested that H2O2 levels are more in children without any caries experience. H2O2 production is the same among males and females but according to age, H2O2 production increases as the child grows with age.