title: Evaluation of physio-chemical properties of saliva and comparison of its relation with dental caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Objective was to evaluate the relationship between physio-chemical properties of saliva such as flow rate, buffering capacity, pH, Streptococcus mutans in saliva and its relationship with dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty children were evaluated for physio-chemical properties of saliva, out which 40 were caries-active (group 1) and 40 caries-free (control group). Caries status of each child was scored by using DMFS and dfs indices to get a combined DMFS and dfs score. The physio-chemical properties were evaluated using Saliva Check (GC Asia Dental Pte Ltd- India) and streptococcus mutans using Dentocult SM Strip Mutans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity of saliva in caries-active children were decreased but not statistically significant. The Streptococcus mutant count of saliva was increased significantly in caries-active children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physio-chemical properties of saliva like pH, buffering capacity, salivary flow rate, concentration of various components like proteins, calcium and antioxidant defense system play a major role in the development of caries. Hence, more clinical and laboratory studies are needed to determine the exact relationship between these physio-chemical properties of saliva and dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontic and Preventive Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Subha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogra
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhayya
authors.forename: Ruchi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Deepesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Dashmesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thakur
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification