Psychosocial factors have both behavioural and physiological effects, with multiple consequences that are also reflected at salivary level, and may influence caries experience in children. In this PhD-thesis, clinical dental evaluations, levels of salivary proteins, and behavioural and psychometric assessments have been used to determine whether stress and salivary proteins are indicators of caries experience in children. Salivary levels of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-8 and MMP-9 proved to be strong indicators of caries experience, and although determination of salivary total proteolytic activity with PEK-054 substrate lacked specificity, it showed the potential to be a promising indicator as well (Chapter 5). Salivary alpha amylase seems to have a protective role and was a strong indicator of caries experience, as opposed to salivary cortisol. Further, we showed that higher levels of salivary alpha amylase were associated with lower salivary total proteolytic activity and MMP-9 levels (Chapter 6). When children were exposed to two different dental treatments, the level of salivary cortisol and alpha amylase increased compared to their normal diurnal pattern. The difference in salivary cortisol and alpha amylase levels between pre- and post-treatment could differentiate between non-invasive and invasive dental interventions, as opposed to psychometric assessments. Subjects that exhibited a less cooperative behaviour during dental treatments registered higher levels of state anxiety (Chapter 7). Taken together, our results underline the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms through which stress and salivary proteins levels might influence caries experience and how different types of dental treatments influence children’s behaviour and stress levels.