Tag Archives: salivary pH

Risk Assessment of Caries in Pregnancy

Molnar-Varlam C1, Molnar-Varlam Cristina2, Babeț Ioana-Gabriela3, Tohati A4

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
2 Department of Morphology of Teeth and Dental Arches, Technology of Dental Prosthesis and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
3 Student, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
4 Department of Comunitary Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of salivary testing in dental caries assessment and to determine a possible relationship between oral hygiene, diet, salivary cariogenic flora, saliva secretion rate, buffer capacity of saliva, salivary pH and caries incidence during pregnancy. Another objective is to introduce a prevention program in teaching institutions.
Material and methods: The longitudinal and descriptive study was conducted from January 2010 to September 2011. Thirty-five pregnant women, aged between 20–35 years, were examined during the three trimesters of pregnancy in order to evaluate the caries risk factors. The study investigated the Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacilli count in saliva; the salivary pH and the buffer capacity of saliva by using a salivary testing kit (CRT Bacteria and Buffer). These tests were non-invasive and well-accepted by all women.
Results: The results showed an increase in the number of Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacilli in the second part of pregnancy (>105 CFU/ml saliva). An exception is the 20–24 years age group, where we observed a decrease in the third trimester. Also, their frequency increases with parity and women’s age. In terms of pH, we observed a decrease in the first trimester (6.35), but in the third trimester the pH was less acid (6.85).
Conclusions: Microbiological evaluations suggest that pregnant women present a high caries risk, but the implementation of preventive measures such as a rigorous hygiene and balanced diet prevent the appearance of new carious lesions.

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Effect of Different Fluoridated Dentifrices on Salivary pH and Fluoride Content

Cămărăşan Alina1, Fazakas Zita2, Cerghizan Diana3, Balogh-Sămărghițan V2, Székely Melinda1

1 Department of Morphology of Teeth and Dental Arches; Technology of Dental Prosthesis and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
3 Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania

Aims: The study was aimed to establish the influence of toothpaste fluoride (F) concentration on salivary F levels and pH in order to evaluate oral F retention.
Material and methods: Thirty-four healthy young volunteers participated in this study performed on two separate occasions in which the subjects brushed their teeth with low- and conventional fluoridated dentifrices: 1) 500 ppmF and 2) 1450 ppmF. Three samples of whole unstimulated saliva were collected from each participant in all occasions: T1 – before brushing (baseline), T2 – right after brushing and T3 – 60 min. after completing each experimental procedure. Salivary pH and F concentration were determined. The Mann-Withney test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The mean salivary F values (mean value±SD) measured right after toothbrushing were 1.439±0.732 when low-fluoride dentifrice was used and 4.160±2.53 with 1450 ppmF toothpaste, respectively. One hour after toothbrushing salivary F decreased significantly compared to the T2 values (p<0.001), however remained significantly higher than baseline in both occasions: 1) 0.159±0.026 (T3), and 2) 0.29±0.206 (T3). No significant differences could be observed between the salivary pH values.
Conclusions: After toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste containing 500 ppmF and 1450 ppmF, salivary F concentration increased significantly and remained elevated above the baseline one hour after brushing. The results suggests that toothpaste with higher F concentration could have more efficacy in caries prevention. Salivary pH is not influenced by fluoride content of dentifrices.

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