Salivary samples were obtained from 20 children in their fifth year of life diagnosed S-ECC and 20 age and sex matched controls. Complete dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia was performed for the 20 children with S-ECC, and follow up salivary samples were obtained one week and three months post operatively. The TAC was measured using a commercially available Oxygen Radical Absorbance Antioxidant Assay measurement kit (Zen-Bio ORAC™, AMS Biotechnology, Abington UK).

Background: The association of total salivary antioxidant capacity (TAC) to severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) has been studied in the past. It is not clear if TAC is an indicator of the inflammatory response to the lesion or a marker of the disease.

Aim: This study aimed to measure the salivary TAC levels in children with early childhood caries before and after dental treatment and compare the results to caries free children.

Methodology: Salivary samples were obtained from 20 children in their fifth year of life diagnosed S-ECC and 20 age and gendersex matched controls. Complete dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia was performed for the 20 children with S-ECC, and follow up salivary samples were obtained one week and three months post operatively. The TAC was measured using a commercially available Oxygen Radical Absorbance Antioxidant Assay measurement kit (Zen-Bio ORAC™, AMS Biotechnology, Abington UK).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medically fit children
• Age below 71 months
• Test group - to be diagnosed with severe ECC
• Control group - to be caries free

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who are on long term medications,
• Children with chronic diseases
• Children who have had an infection less than three weeks prior to collection of saliva