Comparison of submandibular/sublingual salivary flow rates in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared age related changes in submandibular/sublingual salivary flow rates in children and adolescents.


METHODS
Twenty-nine children between the ages of 5 and 14 years were evaluated. A group of adults ages 18 to 39 years were also evaluated. No subject was taking medication which could have affected salivary flow rate. Salivary flow was stimulated using a single application of 3% citric acid during a 5-minute test period. A group of 12 children ages 5 to 9 years was compared to a group of 16 adolescents ages 10 to 14 years.


RESULTS
Analysis using a Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test with a .05 level used for significance showed that the salivary flow rates of the 2 groups were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant difference was found between the stimulated submandibular salivary flow rates of children ages 5 to 9 years and 10 to 14 years.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, Newark, NJ, USA. rgrdmd@comcast.net
R Glenn
RG
Rosivack
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism*