title: Correlation of Salivary pH, Incidence of Dental Caries and Periodontal Status in Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting many parts of the body. A number of oral diseases have been associated with diabetes mellitus with an increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the salivary pH and incidence of dental caries and periodontal status in diabetes mellitus compared to that of the normal subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 40 patients divided into 2 groups with group I comprising of 20 known diabetes mellitus patients and group II comprising of 20 non diabetic subjects as control group. The pH of the saliva was determined using a digital pH meter. Dental caries and periodontal status were assessed by DMFT and PDI indices respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a decrease in the mean salivary pH of 6.51 in the study group, compared to the normal mean salivary pH of 7.88 in the control group. The mean DMFT index was higher in the study group (8.10) when compared to that of control group (1.15). The mean PDI score was also higher in the study group (4.0) as compared to that of the control group (0.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study concluded that there was a significant relationship between the diabetes mellitus and increased incidence of dental caries and periodontitis and there was also a significant reduction in the salivary pH in diabetes mellitus patients, compared to that of non diabetic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute , Kelambakkam, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seethalakshmi
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute , Kelambakkam, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: R C Jagat
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: CRRI, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute , Kelambakkam, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asifa
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute , Kelambakkam, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabhu
keywords: Salivary biomarkers; Systemic diseases