Saliva properties and dental caries prevalence in the South Karnataka population

Abstract

Context: The biochemical and physicochemical properties of saliva have multifunctional roles in maintaining oral and general health. This article emphasizes the influence of salivary properties on caries process and caries susceptibility. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate associations between prevalence and activity of intraoral carious lesions and salivary properties tested using the saliva check kit (GC Corp) in adult South Karnataka population. Subjects and Methods: With ethical approval, 100 healthy adult patients coming to the Outpatient Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics who have decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index ≥5 have been selected for the study. Saliva properties tested included hydration, viscosity, resting pH, and for quantity and buffering capacity of stimulated saliva. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained were analyzed with Spearman s rank correlation. Results: The resting saliva pH and the buffering capacity of the stimulated saliva were shown to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), whereas resting saliva hydration and stimulated saliva viscosity were not significant. The quantity of the stimulated saliva showed no correlation with DMFT. Conclusions: There appeared to be a correlation between the resting pH of saliva, saliva buffering capacity, and the potential lesion activity of dental caries.