Quantification and correlation of salivary pH, viscosity and matrix metalloproteinase-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in caries free and caries active children- A randomized clinical trial.

The present study will be done on 40 subjects to assess the salivary pH, viscosity and matirxmetalloproteinase-8 and matirxmetalloproteinase-9 in caries and caries free aged 3-6 years. 20 subjects are taken in each group. A thorough clinical examination will be done for active carious lesions using dmfs indices (>=4 active caries). An stimulated saliva will be collected. the subjects will be asked to seat comfortably with eyes open, head tilted slightly forward with restricted orofacial movements, and will be instructed to rest for 5 min. Saliva will be allowed to accumulate in the floor of the mouth and the subjects will be asked to spit into a sterile saliva collecting vial. All the samples will be transferred aseptically and sent for analysis to assess salivary pH, viscosity and matirxmetalloproteinase-8 and matirxmetalloproteinase-9.