Salivary Antimicrobial Peptides and Severe Early Childhood Caries in Turkish Children

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Salivary Antimicrobial Peptides and Severe Early Childhood Caries in Turkish Children

This observational study aims to evaluate the relationship between salivary antimicrobial peptides and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in Turkish children. Severe early childhood caries is a multifactorial disease influenced by microbial, environmental, and host-related factors. Salivary antimicrobial peptides play an important role in the innate immune defense of the oral cavity and may influence susceptibility to dental caries.

In this cross-sectional study, salivary samples were collected from children diagnosed with S-ECC and from caries-free controls. Clinical dental examinations were performed to assess caries status. The levels of selected salivary antimicrobial peptides were measured and compared between groups to determine potential associations.

The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the role of salivary immune components in the development of severe early childhood caries.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dental Caries; Severe Early Childhood Caries

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 50

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34093
    • Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consisted of systemically healthy Turkish children aged 3-6 years who attended the pediatric dentistry clinic. Participants were divided into two groups: children diagnosed with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and caries-free controls.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Case Group (S-ECC):

• Preschool children aged 3-6 years
• In the primary dentition period
• No previous history of dental treatment
• Diagnosis of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) defined as:

dmft ≥4 at age 3, dmft ≥5 at age 4, dmft ≥6 at age 5

• Systemically healthy children
• Turkish ethnicity
• Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Control Group:

• Preschool children aged 3-6 years
• In the primary dentition period
• No previous history of dental treatment
• Caries-free children (dmft = 0)
• No history of fillings or tooth extraction due to caries
• Systemically healthy children
• Turkish ethnicity
• Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of medications affecting salivary flow within the last 3 months (e.g., antimuscarinic agents, antihypertensives, antidepressants)
• Presence of systemic or local diseases affecting salivary secretion (e.g., diabetes, salivary gland infections, salivary gland stones, neurological disorders)
• Lack of parental/legal guardian consent
• Inability to cooperate during saliva sample collection
• Presence of chronic systemic diseases
• History of chemotherapy or radiotherapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC); Children diagnosed with severe early childhood caries based on clinical examination.
Caries-Free Control; Caries-free children without clinical signs of dental caries.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Salivary Antimicrobial Peptide Levels	Quantitative levels of selected salivary antimicrobial peptides, including human beta-defensin 3 (HBD-3), histatin-5 (HST-5), and LL-37, measured in unstimulated saliva samples and compared between children with severe early childhood caries and caries-free controls.	At single visit (baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Streptococcus mutans Levels	Quantitative assessment of Streptococcus mutans levels in saliva samples and comparison between study groups.	At single visit (baseline)
Candida albicans Levels	Quantitative assessment of Candida albicans levels in saliva samples and comparison between children with severe early childhood caries and caries-free controls.	At single visit (baseline)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bezmialem Vakif University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 10, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 10, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Tooth Diseases; Tooth Demineralization; Dental Caries
• Other Study ID Numbers: E.140950