Buffering Capacity of Saliva in Patients with Active Dental Caries

Background and Aim:The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pH, buffering capacity, viscosity and flow rate of saliva in caries free, minimal caries and nursing caries children and to evaluate the relationship of these on the caries activity of children.Materials and Methods:A total of 75 school children of age group between 4 and 12 years were selected and divided into three equal groups: Group I, Group II and Group III, consisting of 25 subjects each. Group I included caries-free subjects, Group II included subjects with minimal caries and Group III included subjects with nursing caries. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects and were estimated for flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and viscosity.Results:There was a significant decrease in the mean salivary flow rate, salivary ph and salivary buffer capacity and a significant increase in the salivary viscosity among caries-free subjects, subjects with minimal caries and subjects with nursing caries.Conclusion:The physicochemical properties of saliva, such as salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and viscosity, has a relation with caries activity in children and act as markers of caries activity.

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“…A study performed by Malekipour et al . in 2008[21] showed similar results, although the difference was not statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Swerdlove in 1942[20] and Malekipour et al . in 2008[21] reported no relationship between the incidence of dental caries and the pH of normal resting saliva. Lamberts et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of pH, buffering capacity, viscosity and flow rate levels of saliva in caries-free, minimal caries and nursing caries children: An in vivo study

et al. 2014

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“…These results were similar to other studies which showed a strong correlation between the buffering capacity and the prevalence of dental caries. [621]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factors such as bacterial counts of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacillus (LB) and the buffering capacity (BC) of saliva have been shown to be strong risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of dental caries. [56]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correlating dental caries with oral bacteria and the buffering capacity of saliva in children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Bhayat

Ahmad

Hifnawy

et al. 2013

J Int Soc Prevent Communit Dent

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Introduction:Caries is associated with high counts of mutans streptococci (MS), lactobacillus (LB), and a low saliva buffering capacity (BC). No study using odds ratios (OR) has correlated caries and these factors and no similar study has been done in Saudi Arabia before. Objectives: To determine: The prevalence of caries, the number of colony forming units (CFUs) of MS and LB, the saliva buffering capacity (BC) and the relationship between these factors.Materials and Methods:This was an analytical cross sectional study on children from Madinah. Caries was recorded using dmft/DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth). The scores for MS and LB and the BC of saliva was calculated using the Caries Risk Test (CRT)®.Results:A total of 316 students were examined; two-thirds (62%) were female and 25% were caries free. Saliva was collected from 235 participants and the majority had high MS and LB scores (66 and 71%, respectively) while 25% had a low saliva BC. The odds for those who had high LB and MS CFUs, were 9 and 4 times more at risk to developing dental caries and those with a low BC had significantly more caries (P = 0.03). The likelihood for those having severe caries and high counts of LB and MS was 25 (P < 0.01) and 6 (P = 0.042) times greater, respectively, compared to those with no or mild caries. Those with multiple risk factors were more likely to have caries compared to those with single or no risk factors present.Conclusions:The prevalence of caries was relatively high and many respondents had greater than 105 CFUs/ml of MS and LB. Almost all with a low BC had severe caries. There was a strong correlation between high MS, high LB, and low BC and the high prevalence of caries; hence the combination of these factors could be confidently used to predict caries in this population.

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