title: Evaluation of pH, buffering capacity, viscosity and flow rate levels of saliva in caries-free, minimal caries and nursing caries children: An in vivo study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pH, buffering capacity, viscosity and flow rate of saliva in caries free, minimal caries and nursing caries children and to evaluate the relationship of these on the caries activity of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 school children of age group between 4 and 12 years were selected and divided into three equal groups: Group I, Group II and Group III, consisting of 25 subjects each. Group I included caries-free subjects, Group II included subjects with minimal caries and Group III included subjects with nursing caries. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects and were estimated for flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and viscosity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in the mean salivary flow rate, salivary ph and salivary buffer capacity and a significant increase in the salivary viscosity among caries-free subjects, subjects with minimal caries and subjects with nursing caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physicochemical properties of saliva, such as salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and viscosity, has a relation with caries activity in children and act as markers of caries activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Dwitha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Animireddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Venkata Thimma
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Reddy Bekkem
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pranitha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sunil Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kotha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Swetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ankireddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College and Hospital, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Noorjahan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammad
keywords: Caries-free; minimal-caries; nursing-caries; salivary buffering capacity; salivary flow rate; salivary pH; salivary viscosity