Calcium and Phosphorus Content of Plaque and Saliva in Relation to Dental Caries

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Abstract
Plaque and saliva samples were obtained from 55 children aged 13-15 yr: 23 of them were caries free (group N) while the other 32 had evidence of high-caries activity over the preceding 2 yr, with a mean DMFS [decayed, missing or filled (permanent) surfaces] of 25.9 (group H). The average concentration of Ca in posterior plaque of children in group N was 3.57 .mu.g/mg (dry wt), compared with 1.63 .mu.g/mg for group H. The average concentration of Ca in anterior plaque was 11.55 .mu.g/mg in group N and 2.57 .mu.g/mg in gorup H. The differences between groups N and H were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Similar significant differences were found between P levels in plaque. Although the mean levels of both Ca and P in saliva were higher for group N than for group H, only for P did the difference reach statistical significance (P < 0.05). Levels of both Ca and P are significantly higher in plaque taken from children with no caries experience than they are in plaque from children who are caries susceptible.