A Comparative Analysis of Differences in Salivary hBD-2 Levels and Their Correlation with Dental Caries and Unstimulated Saliva pH in Children with Primary and Permanent Dentition.

Background/Objectives: This exploratory study aimed to investigate potential differences and associations between salivary hBD-2 levels and dental caries, as well as between unstimulated salivary pH and salivary hBD-2 levels, in children with primary and permanent dentition, aiming to profile these two dentition-development groups. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included children with primary (n = 75) and permanent dentition (n = 78). Data were collected by surveying mothers and clinically exam ining their children. Unstimulated saliva samples of the children were collected to determine salivary pH and hBD-2 levels. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between the examined variables. Results: Children with permanent dentition had a significantly higher mean salivary hBD-2 level (p = 0.044), while children with primary dentition had a significantly higher mean unstimulated saliva pH (p < 0.001). No significant correlation was determined between salivary hBD-2 levels and dental caries, nor between unstimulated saliva pH and dental caries in either group of study participants (hBD-2: p = 0.515 and 0.224; pH: p = 0.121 and 0.061, respectively). A significant negative association between salivary hBD-2 peptide levels and unstimulated saliva pH in children with permanent dentition was revealed (rs = -0.230, p = 0.043). Conclusions: Salivary hBD-2 levels were higher in children with permanent dentition, with an inverse association with unstimulated saliva pH observed only in this group. No significant correlation was found between salivary hBD-2 levels and dental caries. Further well-designed studies are needed to better understand dentition or age-related variations in salivary hBD-2 levels, their association with unstimulated salivary pH, and their potential as a caries biomarker.