title: Linear reciprocal interaction between dental caries and salivary characteristics.
abstract: Carious tooth surfaces can alter saliva in various ways. We investigated whether salivary parameters were affected by elimination of existing active dental caries in 99 children (age 6-12 years) with more than five carious tooth surfaces. Unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from each child, and salivary characteristics were evaluated. One month after caries treatment that eliminated all existing dental caries, saliva sampling and analysis were repeated. Saliva viscosity significantly decreased (P = 0.04), while pH and saliva buffering capacity significantly increased (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in unstimulated salivary production at the start of the study and 1 month after caries elimination (P > 0.05). The relationship between dental caries and salivary condition is reciprocal. Treatment of existing dental caries can prevent future caries by improving saliva quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Naser Asl
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Aminabadi
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Najafpour
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Razavi Rohani
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sighari Deljavan
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghojazadeh
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jamali
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity