Salivary flow rates, per se, may not serve as consistent predictors for dental caries

Cynthia P. Trajtenberg, Juliana A. Barros, Shalizeh A. Patel, Leslie Miles, Charles F. Streckfus

Department of Diagnostic & Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, USA.
Department of Medical/Surgical Rehabilitation, University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, Houston, USA.
Department of Periodontics, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Cleveland, USA.
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojst.2013.32025                

Abstract

Background: This clinical study evaluated the effects of salivary flow rate, age, race, health status and medications on the incidence of caries. Methods:Cauca-sian and African-American men and women (n = 501), aged 22-93 years participated in the study. Stimulated (S) and unstimulated (U) parotid (P) and submandibular glands (SM) salivary secretions were collected. Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) was collected as control. Glandular stimulation was achieved using 2% citric acid at 30-second intervals to the dorsal surface of the tongue. Salivary flow rates (SFR) were calculated by total weight of saliva divided by 5 minutes and expressed in ml/minute. Coronal caries were scored using the NIDR DMFS index. Carious lesions were classified according to tooth surfaces by a calibrated single examiner. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the association between SFR with age and percentage of carious teeth. Multiple regression analyses were calculated at (p < 0.05). Results: The variables gender, race, age, health status, medication usage and salivary function were not predictors for dental disease. Additionally, these risk factors were not risk factors for missing teeth. Conclusions: In conclusion, cross-sectional investigations are limited in their ability to identify the relevant variables for disease prediction. In addition, clinical and basic science investigations will be necessary to assess risk factors for dental caries.

Keywords

Salivary Glands; Saliva; Caries; Aging; Medications

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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