creators_name: Gopinath V.K, creators_name: Arzreanne A.R., creators_id: gopinath@kb.usm.my creators_id: type: article datestamp: 2008-01-17 00:51:32 lastmod: 2008-01-17 00:51:32 metadata_visibility: show corp_creators: Universiti Sains Malaysia. School of Dental Sciences title: Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool for Assessment of Dental Caries ispublished: pub subjects: Q subjects: R full_text_status: public keywords: saliva, dental caries, diagnostic tool abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salivary testing in dental caries assessment. The role of saliva flow rate, pH, viscosity and buffering capacity in subjects with high caries (DMFT>5) (group 1) against subjects with low caries (DMFT=0) (control group) were evaluated. 40 subjects between the age of 18 and 40 years old were selected (20 subjects control group and 20 subjects group 1). By using a salivary testing kit (GC Asia Dental Pte Ltd, Japan), each subject underwent test such as hydration status of the oral mucosa, viscosity and pH of resting saliva, stimulated salivary flow rate and buffering capacity of stimulated saliva. The results showed that the flow rate, viscosity, pH and buffering capacity of saliva in subjects of group 1 (DMFT>5) was significantly lower (p<0.01) compared to control group (DMFT=0). Therefore saliva may protect the tooth from demineralizing. Hence we recommended this saliva test to be done in patients with high caries risk. date: 2006 date_type: published publication: Archives of Orofacial Sciences volume: 1 publisher: School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia pagerange: 57-59 refereed: TRUE issn: 1823-8602 referencetext: Beck JD, Kohout F and Hunt RJ (1988). Identification of high caries risk adult: attitude, social factors and diseases. Int Dent J, 38: 231-280. Dawes C (1987). Physiological factors affecting salivary flow rate, oral sugar clearance, and the sensation of dry mouth in man. J Dent Res, 66:648-653. Hicks J, Garcia-Godoy F and Flaitz C (2003). Biological factors in dental caries: Role of Saliva and Dental Plaque in the Dynamic Process of Demineralization and emineralization (part 1). J Clin Pediatr Dent, 28: 47-52. Holbrook WP, de Soet JJ and de Graaff J (1993). Prediction of dental caries in pre-school children. Caries Res, 27:424-430. Johansson I, Saellstrom AK, Rajan BP and Parameswaran A (1992). Salivary flow and dental caries in Indian children suffering from chronic malnutrition. Caries Res, 26: 38-43. Leone CW and Oppenheim FG (2001). Physical and Chemical Aspects of Saliva as Indicators of Risk for Dental Caries in human. J Dent Educ, 65: 1054-1064. Lenander-Lumikari M and Loimaranta V (2000). Saliva and Dental Caries. Adv Dent Res, 14: 40- 47. Oral health surveys. Basic methods, third edition, WHO (1987). 34 –39. Pajari U (1988). Effect of anti-neoplastic therapy on dental hard tissue and saliva in children and adolescent. A clinical and experimental study. Proc Finn Dent Soc, 84: 1-59. Reich E, Lussi A and Newbrun E (1999). Caries Risk Assessment. Int Dent J, 49: 15-26. Vehkalahti M, Nikula-Sarakorpi E and Paunio I (1996). Evaluation of salivary tests and dental status in the prediction of caries increment in caries susceptible teenagers. Caries Res, 30: 22-28 citation: Gopinath V.K, and Arzreanne A.R., (2006) Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool for Assessment of Dental Caries. Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 1 . pp. 57-59. ISSN 1823-8602 document_url: http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/1544/1/57_59_Gopinath.pdf