Studies of secretory IgA in caries-resistant and caries-susceptible adults.

Caries resistant subjects appeared to possess a greater potential for production of secretory IgA than caries susceptible subjects, at least in stimulated parotid and submaxillary secretions. There was considerable overlap, however, among subjects in all groups examined. There are no consistent differences in s-IgA among groups in unstimulated parotid and submaxillary saliva. It would appear, therefore, that s-IgA secretion per se is not a critical determinant of caries resistance. The tendency to higher s-IgA values among resistant people, however, may indicate a greater propensity to specific antibody production. This aspect of caries protection requires independent investigation.