title: Impact of Bariatric Surgery on the Saliva of Patients with Morbid Obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The oral condition of obese patients may change following bariatric surgery owing to adverse effects that cause alterations in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on the saliva of patients with morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole saliva samples were collected from 27 patients with morbid obesity (BMI >40 kg/m(2)), prior to and 6 months after bariatric surgery. Stimulated salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, and microbial levels of mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus spp., and Candida albicans were analyzed from saliva.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Values of all salivary variables before and after bariatric surgery were within the normal range, except for the level of C. albicans, which was elevated at both times. An increase in the level of mutans streptococci was observed after bariatric surgery (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the salivary levels of mutans streptococci increase following bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Santana, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil, lhashizume@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Lina N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Lucelen F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Débora D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hilgert
authors.forename: Fernando N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Hugo
authors.forename: Airton T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Kátia E P
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Nelson G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Meinhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012472:Salivation; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification