Are increased salivary carbonic anhydrase VI levels related to the amount of supragingival dental calculus formation and clinical periodontal scores?

Abstract

Background/purpose: Carbonic anhydrase (CA) VI is a unique salivary isoenzyme that regulates the pH in the oral environment. Its increased levels result in a more-alkaline saliva, hence it was hypothesized to contribute to dental calculus formation together with salivary inorganic salts. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between salivary CA VI levels and the amount of supragingival dental calculus formation on human teeth. Materials and methods: Seventy-five volunteers were grouped according to their oral hygiene status, and the amount of supragingival dental calculus was measured by the Volpe–Manhold Index (VMI). Group I included control individuals who had no dental calculus formation clinically (VMI = 0). Group II included light calculus formers (VMI 0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between salivary CA levels and amount of dental calculus in groups II and III (P < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: This study found positive correlations between increased salivary CA VI activity and the amount of supragingival dental calculus; however, further investigations are needed to clarify the exact association between these parameters.

Keywords

• carbonic anhydrase
• dental calculus
• oral hygiene
• saliva