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Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate changes in salivary inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in children with mild intellectual disability (ID) and early childhood caries (ECC) following total oral rehabilitation (TOR), and to explore their potential as non-invasive indicators of oral inflammatory status. Methods A prospective interventional study was conducted on 23 children aged 3–6 years with mild ID and ECC, recruited from the NITTE Special Child Care Centre and affiliated schools. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline (pre-TOR), 1 month, and 3 months post-TOR. TOR included comprehensive dental treatment—oral prophylaxis, restorations, pulp therapy, extractions, sealants, and fluoride application—alongside individualised diet counselling and reinforcement of oral hygiene. Salivary IL-6 and TNF-α levels were quantified using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed using the Friedman test, followed by Bonferroni-adjusted Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (adjusted α = 0.017). Results The median baseline salivary IL-6 and TNF-α levels were 257.97 pg/mL and 173.0 pg/mL, respectively. Both cytokines demonstrated significant reductions at 1 month (IL-6:98.45 pg/mL; TNF-α: 77.12 pg/mL) and 3 months (IL-6:98.33 pg/mL; TNF-α: 72.0 pg/mL) post-TOR (Friedman test, p < 0.001). Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons showed significant reductions in IL-6 and TNF-α from baseline to 1 month and baseline to 3 months (p < 0.001). The additional reduction in TNF-α from 1 to 3 months did not remain statistically significant after adjustment (p = 0.033). Conclusion Total oral rehabilitation was associated with significant reductions in salivary IL-6 and TNF-α levels in children with mild intellectual disabilities, consistent with measurable biochemical improvements. These findings support the potential role of salivary cytokines as non-invasive indicators of oral inflammatory changes; however, further controlled studies incorporating clinical correlations and larger cohorts are required before definitive biomarker validation. Trial registration The trial was prospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry – India (CTRI) with registration No: CTRI/2024/07/071143 dated 2024-07-23.
Baksi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.