Inclusion Criteria:  male or female age 6 - 12 y.o. complaint dental pain diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis or symptomatic apical periodontitis assigned agreement to the informed consent form by parents/caregivers and children cooperation  Exclusion Criteria:  use of analgesics or antibiotics prior 48 h before specimen collection having a systemic disease disorders interfering with salivary function or flow regular medication intake interfering with salivary function or flow having temporary infectious disease having neurodevelopmental dysfunction (e.g ADHD) lack of cooperation during dental visits inability to understand the content of the informed consent form by parents/caregivers and children