The Effect of Fixed Space Maintainer Appliances on Salivary Level of Immunoglobulin A and other Saliva Properties

Abstract

Secretary immunoglobulin A SIgA , play an important role  in mucosal immunity, and  the salivary level change in response to  infection ,social , psychological and physical stress, also the change in level of salivary IgA and other saliva properties include salivary pH,  salivary flow rate SFR, and body mass index BMI in children with fixed appliances were measured  .The aim of this work was to compare the values of SIgA, PH, SFR and BMI in children with and without fixed appliances. This work included 20 children (10 males and 10 females) with mean age 6 years old who were users of fixed space maintainer for at least 12 weeks,  and 20 children (12 males and 8 females) without fixed appliances and with  mean age = 6.7 years. The level of SIgA  in saliva were assessed by ELISA test. The results revealed that the mean values of SIgA and SFR were higher in fixed appliance group than the group without fixed appliance, with statistical significant difference, but no statistical significant differences were reported for salivary pH and BMI between the studied groups. The results also showed a weak positive correlation between SIgA and SFR (r = 0.07) while negative correlation between SIgA and pH in fixed appliance children (r = 0.1).

In conclusion, children with fixed appliances associated with high level of SIgA and SFR and the level of salivary pH and BMI do not correlated with fixed appliance.