Relation of caries status on the salivary total antioxidant levels in asthmatic children

AIM: To study the correlation between the caries status and the salivary antioxidant levels among asthmatic children. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: One hundred children within the age group of 6 12 years were selected and equally subdivided into children having a history of asthma and their healthy siblings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salivary antioxidant levels were assessed using spectrophotometric method, and the caries status was recorded using DMFT (Decayed, missing and Filled Teeth Index) and dft (decayed, filled teeth index) index. RESULT: The salivary antioxidant levels were reduced among the asthmatic children which was statistically highly significant, whereas the caries prevalence was reduced, but not statistically significant.