Evaluation of Salivary IL-2, IL-5, and IL-17 Levels in Paediatric Patients Treated With Stainless Steel Crowns

Abstract

Background: Salivary cytokine assessment provides a non-invasive method to evaluate the biocompatibility of metal-based restorative materials in paediatric dentistry. Changes in IL-17 may indicate early immunological responses to stainless steel crowns (SSCs). Aim: To investigate salivary IL-2, IL-5, and IL-17 levels in children treated with SSCs and explore their potential immunological implications. Design: Ten paediatric patients aged 3-9 years were included in this prospective study. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected before treatment and 7 days after SSC placement. Cytokine expression was measured using RT-qPCR. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA for cytokine expression and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for salivary nickel and chromium levels, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Baseline IL-2, IL-5, and IL-17 levels were low and comparable. 7 days after SSC placement, all cytokines increased. IL-17 and IL-5 showed significant upregulation, whereas IL-2 demonstrated only a minor, non-significant change. Salivary nickel and chromium concentrations increased mildly but remained well below established safety thresholds. Conclusion: Stainless steel crowns (SSC) placement was associated with increased IL-5 and IL-17 expression, suggesting a localised, subclinical immune response potentially linked to low-level metal-ion exposure. These findings support the use of salivary cytokines as early biomarkers for assessing the biocompatibility and immunological safety of SSCs in paediatric patients.