Assessment of The Relationship Between Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) and Its Treatment On Proteinase 3 (PR3) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) Concentrations in Saliva

Dental caries is a biofilm disease caused by bacterial metabolism diffusing into enamel and dentin and dissolving the minerals. Due to the insufficient activity of the complement system in the elimination of cariogenic microorganisms, immune function requires the intervention of phagocytes such as neutrophils to combat bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary interleukin-8 (IL-8) and proteinase 3 (PR3), as inflammatory factors associated with neutrophil function, with severe early childhood caries.50 children aged 36-72 months were included in this crosssectional and interventional study. They were divided into two groups: caries-free (control) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC), with 25 children in each group. Standard clinical examinations were performed, and 1-2ml of unstimulated whole saliva was collected. 6-8 weeks after dental restorations, children in S-ECC group were reexamined and analyzed for salivary concentrations of IL-8 and PR3 using an ELISA assay. Before the treatment, subjects in S-ECC group presented with elevated levels of IL-8 and PR3 compared with subjects in control group (P