EXCAVATION OF CARIES LESIONS INDUCES TRANSIENT DECREASE OF TOTAL SALIVARY IMMUNOGLOBULIN-A CONCENTRATION

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) secreted by salivary glands is the pre dominant humoral factor of the local immune system in the oral cavity. Epidemiological studies emphasize the importance of salivary IgA in t he protection from infections and caries. This study investigated how excavation of caries lesions affects total salivary IgA concentration. Fifteen patients were assigned to two sessions: the first session con sisted of the excavation of a caries lesion. Thirty min before, during , directly after, and 30 min after the excavation, patients were asked for saliva samples, One wk later, a control session was performed on the same patients at the same time of the day, consisting oi a dental inspection without any drilling. Marked, transient decreases were obse rved in concentration and secretion rate of total salivary immunoglobu lin A during and immediately after caries excavation. Thirty min after caries excavation, immunoglobulin A concentrations returned to baseli ne. No differences were found between sessions with regard to saliva f low and cortisol concentration. It was concluded that transient decrea ses of total salivary immunoglobulin A concentrations are induced by e xcavation of caries lesions.