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Published on: December 18, 2013
Stimulated saliva flow rate patterns in children: A six-year longitudinal study
Sánchez-Pérez Leonor1, Saénz-Martínez Laura, Irigoyen-Camacho Esther
1Area for Research in Clinical Sciences, Health Attention Department, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Xochimilco Unit, Mexico City, Mexico. tlsperez@correo.xoc.uam.mx
Insights
Stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) in children is a predictable trait. This study found that children consistently exhibit either a high or low SSFR throughout childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Salivary Diagnostics
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Saliva flow rate is crucial for oral health.
- Understanding the stability of stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) in children is important for assessing oral health risks.
- Longitudinal data on SSFR variability in healthy children is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) is a stable individual characteristic in healthy children as they grow.
- To identify patterns and predictability of SSFR in a pediatric cohort over time.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking 100+ seven-year-old children over six years.
- Paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected annually.
- Cluster and partition analyses were used to identify SSFR patterns and predict trends.
Main Results:
- Cluster analysis identified three consistent SSFR patterns among children as they aged.
- Established cut-off values: 1.76 mL/min for high SSFR and 0.5 mL/min for low SSFR.
- These patterns remained stable throughout the six-year study period.
Conclusions:
- Stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) is a constant, individual trait in children.
- High or low SSFR is established early and persists through childhood.
- This predictability can aid in identifying children at risk for salivary dysfunction.
Objective:
To find out whether the stimulated saliva flow rate (SSFR) is a variable and unpredictable characteristic as healthy children grow-up.
Design:
Seven-year-old school children (53 boys and 57 girls) were recruited to measure their SSFR in mL/min. Paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected from each child at baseline and once annually, over six years. Forty-four boys and 46 girls remained in the cohort (dropout rate 18%). Cluster analysis was applied to evaluate the natural grouping of individuals according to their SSFR. Partition analysis was applied to calculate the SSFR cut-off value to predict a child's salivation trend.
Results:
Cluster analysis revealed that as they grew-up these children consistently showed one of three different SSFR patterns. The cut-off values to predict a child's salivation trend were 1.76 mL/min for the high SSFR cluster, and 0.5 mL/min for the low SSFR cluster.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that a high or low SSFR is a constant individual trait in children.
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