[Amylase in saliva and dental caries]

Cilj ispitivanja je enzimska hidrolitička analiza aktivnosti amilaze u slini i dentalnom plaku, te intenziteta salivacije, kao faktora koji bi mogli utjecati na pojavu i intenzitet zuibnog karijesa i njihov međusobni odnos. Uzorak se sastojao od 120 ispitanika, od kojih 90 s intenzivnom pojavom zubnog karijesa i 30 kontrolnih ispitanika. U metodologiji je korišten test intenziteta salivacije. Aktivnost amilaze u slini i dentalnom plaku, određivala se fotometrijskom metodom, a kao reagens korištena je 3.5-dinitrosalicilna kiselina. U ispitivanju nije potvrđen direktan utjecaj navedenih parametara na pojavu i intenzitet zubnog karijesa. Aktivnost amilaze u slini u odnosu na aktivnost amilaze u dentalnom plaku, u obje skupine ispitanika je 2.5 puta viša, odnosno postoji statistički značajna razlika. Ostaje otvoreno pitanje postojanja inhibitora aktivnosti amilaze u dentalnom plaku, koji bi mogli imati utjecaja na dobiveni rezultat.The purpose of this investigation was to analyze, enzymic hydrolitic activity of amylase in saliva and dental plaque and the intensity of salivation as factors which might influence the development and extensiveness of dental caries. The study included 120 examinees — 90 with extensive dental caries and 30 controls. The test for the intensity of salivation was used in the methodology. The activity of amylase in saliva and dental plaque was determined by photometry using 3.5-dinitrosalicyl acid as the reagent. Findings did not reveal any direct effect of the parameters on the occurrence and extensiveness of dental caries (P > 0.05). The activity of amylase in saliva in relation to the activity in dental plaque was 2.5 times greater in both groups of examinees, i.e. there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.03). The question remains open as to whether there exists an inhibitor of amylase activity in dental plaque which could affect these results