The influence of salivary components on dental caries in patients with type I diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Saliva is considered as a intricate oral fluid that keeps the oral cavity hydrated and immune from foreign components. The incidence of dental caries depends on the quantity of saliva secretion. The presence of glucose in excess and reduced salivary concentration has been noted in Type I diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) patients, thereby indicating an increased prospect of dental caries associated with T1DM patients. Aims and Objectives: The study is intended to assess the connection between prevalence of dental caries and the components of saliva like, salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, pH, streptococcus mutans count, salivary glucose level, salivary ?-amylase in T1DM children with age groups between 08-16years. The comparison was done with age and gender to controls involved in the study. Materials and Methods: A case controlled study was designed incorporating 8-16 year old group of children with T1DM and controls were group same age and sex. Salivary flow rate, pH, DMFS Scores, buffering capacity, salivary glucose level, salivary ?-amylase and streptococcus mutans count were analysed for all the subject groups. Salivary factors were compared by using Unpaired ‘t’ test, whereas chi square test was used to analyse salivary buffering capacity. The association between salivary components and caries prevention between T1DM subjects and non T1DM subjects was done by Pearson correlation test. Results: The study results showed DMFS scores in permanent dentition, indicated for extraction and filled teeth surfaces affected by caries in primary dentition (DMFS) score in T1DM were 2.610 and non T1DM was 2.6 respectively. The mean of salivary flow rate in T1DM was 0.261ml/min and non T1DM was 0.661ml/min, thus it was lesser in T1DM patients. The T1DM salivary pH showed an average of 6.51 which was lower in comparison with 7.31 in non T1DM patients. The mean salivary glucose level was found to be 2.310mg/dl in T1DM and 0.721 in non T1DM patients, therefore indication a h