Evaluation of Some Salivary Parameters in a Group of Children Suffering From Rampant Caries in Ismailia City

Abstract

Introduction: Rampant caries (RC) is a severe form of dental decay with multifactorial origin. RC poses a challenging management problem for dentists and patients. Aim: the aim of the study was to evaluate and compare between some salivary parameters: pH, buffering capacity, total protein, flow rate and zinc concentration in a group of children suffering from rampant caries and others with normal caries activity in Ismailia city. Material and methods: sixty apparently healthy children aged from 3-5 years of both sexes. According to dmfs index the selected children were divided into three groups. Saliva samples were examined for salivary pH changes, measured by pH meter, Buffering capacity by titratable acidity, Total protein by colorimetric method, Flow rate by drooling method and Zinc concentration using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: there was no statistically significant difference between mean salivary pH values in three groups. Salivary buffering capacity results showed, group I had a statistically significantly highest mean buffering capacity, There was no statistically significant difference between group II and group III, salivary total proteins showed no statically significant difference between group I and group II; both showed the statistically significant highest mean total protein, but group III showed the statistically significant lowest mean salivary total protein. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in salivary flow rate and Zn concentration. Conclusion: salivary pH, flow rate and Zn conc. can’t be used as an indicator for occurrence of rampant caries but salivary total protein and salivary buffering capacity may be used. Introduction: Rampant caries (RC) is a severe form of dental decay with multifactorial origin. RC poses a challenging management problem for dentists and patients. Aim: the aim of the study was to evaluate and compare between some salivary parameters: pH, buffering capacity, total protein, flow rate and zinc concentration in a group of children suffering from rampant caries and others with normal caries activity in Ismailia city. Material and methods: sixty apparently healthy children aged from 3-5 years of both sexes. According to dmfs index the selected children were divided into three groups. Saliva samples were examined for salivary pH changes, measured by pH meter, Buffering capacity by titratable acidity, Total protein by colorimetric method, Flow rate by drooling method and Zinc concentration using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: there was no statistically significant difference between mean salivary pH values in three groups. Salivary buffering capacity results showed, group I had a statistically significantly highest mean buffering capacity, There was no statistically significant difference between group II and group III, salivary total proteins showed no statically significant difference between group I and group II; both showed the statistically significant highest mean total protein, but group III showed the statistically significant lowest mean salivary total protein. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in salivary flow rate and Zn concentration. Conclusion: salivary pH, flow rate and Zn conc. can’t be used as an indicator for occurrence of rampant caries but salivary total protein and salivary buffering capacity may be used.