Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effect of Salivary Adrenomedullin in Children with Early Childhood Caries and the Caries-free Group: An In Vivo Study

other regions. 3Many AMPs have multiple functions that influence innate defense mechanisms and microbial colonization.One such peptide is adrenomedullin (ADM), a vasodilatory peptide known for its role in innate host defense.Numerous studies indicate ADM's multifunctional physiology, including promoting cell proliferation IntroductIonEarly childhood caries is a disease that affects the teeth of children under 6 years of age, characterized by the presence of decayed, missing, and filled primary tooth.The bacteria primarily associated with early childhood dental caries (ECC) are Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which metabolize the sugar to produce an acid, leading to tooth enamel demineralization and caries development. 1arious proteins which are present in the saliva as biomolecules affect the survival of caries-causing microorganisms by multiple innate defensive mechanisms, thereby modulating the action of oral microflora.Therefore, assessment of these salivary biomolecules is an initial indicators for dental health.A comprehensive investigation into the microbiological and immunological aspects of ECC is essential to support early diagnosis, prevention, and management. 2,3everal studies have demonstrated the colonization of S. mutans 4-6 as a significant primary etiological factor in ECC.Additionally, many studies indicate that S. mutans counts are higher in children with a higher deft index. 7ral epithelial cells, neutrophils, and salivary glands produce at least 45 identified antimicrobial gene products present in saliva.These include antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a diverse group of peptides that contribute to host defense in the oral cavity and 1-