Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease that affects all age groups in which the presence of Streptococcus mutans constitutes a decisive but not sufficient cause for development of the disease, and is the most frequently isolated organism in the oral cavity. On other hand, secretory IgA (IgA-S) as the first immune defense agent that protects oral mucosal surface by impeding bacterial colonization of the tooth through different mechanisms; however there is contradictory evidence regarding the actual role of IgA-S and its relation with the development of dental caries. The purpose was to complete a review of the literature between 1990 to 2008o in order to explain the action of secretory immunoglobulin A during the adherence process of Streptococcus mutans to human teeth.