Webmedcentral

Abstract

Introduction: Some of the common problems of the elderly people that leave a significant impact on their life are edentulism, xerostomia, and salivary gland hypofunction. In the denture wearing population, salivary wetting mechanisms are necessary to create adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension that ultimately lead to increased retention of the prosthesis. Salivary flow rate is thus an important aspect contributing to the retentive properties of complete denture. An in-vivo study was thus planned from a comprehensive perspective to assess resting and stimulated whole salivary flow rate and pH and to correlate them before and after complete denture placement in different age groups. Materials and Methods: The participants were 50 edentulous individuals aged from 40-75 years requiring complete denture prostheses. The participants were divided into three groups based on their age groups. The procedure selected for this study was spitting method for collecting resting (unstimulated) and stimulated whole saliva. The flow rates and pH of resting and stimulated saliva were measured at different intervals. Results: There were significant differences in resting and stimulated whole salivary flow rates obtained before, immediately after, and after 2-3 months of complete denture placement. There were significant differences in pH of resting and stimulated whole saliva determined before , immediately after, and after 2-3 months of complete denture placement.