The importance of saliva qualities to caries defense has been previously emphasized. Objectives: Study hypothesis: even in healthy individuals caries defense functions vary widely and are interrelated. Methods: Under standardization (no smoking, toothbrushing, eating, drinking for 60 min), following functions were studied: saliva flow rates (ml/min), stimulated saliva buffer capacity (scores 0-12), resting saliva pH (5.0 to 7.8). Saliva-Check kits were used for the pH and buffer capacity assessments. Glucose clearance (in M) was measured by glucose monitor at 3, 5, and 7 minutes after the glucose rinse. A fluoride retaining rate (in M/L) assessed at 0min, 5min, 10min, 15min and 20min after the 0.2% fluoride rinse. Counts of Mutans Streptoccocus and Lactobacilli in saliva grouped subjects into low, moderate or high caries risk groups. A convenience sample included healthy subjects (no diseases, neither medication use). The biological functions were related by Pearson correlation and significance set at P<0.05. Results: The resting saliva flow rate varied from 0.20 ml/min to 1.17 ml/min, the stimulated saliva from 0.33 ml/min to 3.11ml/min, pH values were from 5.0 to 7.8 and buffer capacity scores from 6 to 12. The fluoride retaining rate varied most at 5minutes and least at 15 minutes after the fluoride rinse. There was a wide range of variation in glucose clearance patterns at all follow-up periods. These functions were interrelated (coefficient, P-value): the flow rate of resting with the pH of resting saliva (0.485, P=0.049) and the buffer capacity with glucose clearance time (0.626, P=0.012). Subjects with low and moderate risk caries groups presented better values of protective functions than subjects with high caries risk. Conclusion: A wide variation in each of studied protective functions was observed in healthy individuals. The protective functions such as pH, flow rate, buffer capacity and glucose clearance presented related effects.

Back to the Cariology Research Program
Back to the IADR/AADR/CADR 85th General Session and Exhibition (March 21-24, 2007)

Top Level Search