Estimation of Matrix Metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) Levels in Children with Early Childhood Caries

Introduction: The primal incidence of dental caries is from the childhood. To assess the levels of salivary MMP-9 in children with Early Childhood Caries following caries control. Materials and Methods: 45 children between the age group of 3-5 years were selected for the study and divided into three groups of 15 each. Group A was the control group. The salivary samples were collected before any treatments in ECC (Group B) and S-ECC (Group C), following which caries control measures were done. Following 2 weeks of post-treatment, the saliva samples were collected from experimental Groups and tested for salivary MMP-9, pH, and viscosity levels. Results: The mean value of the salivary MMP-9, pH, and viscosity levels estimated in the control group of children was 7.13 ng/ml (±0.809 mg/ml), 7.06 (±0.338), and 0.41 (±0.072) respectively. The pre-treatment salivary MMPs, pH, and viscosity levels estimated in Group B were 10.95 ng/ml (±1.469 ng/ml), 7.07 (±0.403), and 1.74 (±0.412) respectively, and in Group C these values were 18.55 ng/ml (±9.218ng/ml), 6.92 (±0.542) and 1.28 (±0.123) respectively. The post-treatment salivary MMP-9, pH and viscosity levels estimated in Group B were 7.34 ng/ml (±0.673 ng/ml), 7.24 (±0.394), and 0.42 (±0.208) respectively and in Group C these values were 7.84 ng/ml (±0.647 ng/ml), 7.14 (±0.377) and 0.49 (±0.338), respectively after 2 weeks. Conclusion: The salivary MMP-9 and viscosity levels in groups B and C decreased significantly 2 weeks following caries control. The Salivary MMP-9 level is a good diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for comparing the efficacy of various caries control treatment protocols. comparing the efficacy of various caries control treatment protocols.