Salivary parameters and dental caries in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic adults: findings from a cross-sectional
Rafaella Cristhina Rego Marques1, Joana Rodrigues da Silva1, Larisse Santos Mendonça Alves1
1School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil.
Objectives:
To investigate the association between salivary parameters and the number of coronal and root caries lesions (caries extent), as well as to assess whether glycemic status is influencing this association.
Materials And Methods:
This cross-sectional study included dentate adults aged ≥ 35 years. Sociodemographic, behavioral, general and oral health data were collected, as well as salivary parameters, such as flow, pH, buffering capacity, viscoelasticity, and concentration of calcium, glucose, phosphate, and urea. The outcomes were the number of coronal caries (total, active, cavitated) and root caries (total, active, root caries index). Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression models were applied to estimate rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results:
The average of coronal caries extent was significantly higher in individuals with hyperglycemia. Phosphate stood out as a factor associated with coronal caries, both active lesions and cavitated lesions. Buffering capacity was also associated with coronal cavitated caries lesion. Regarding root caries, pH and calcium were associated with the total number of root lesions while pH and urea were associated with the number of active root lesions. Glucose levels and viscoelasticity were also associated with root caries.
Conclusions:
Qualitative salivary parameters were associated with the number of caries lesions differently for coronal and root caries, even after adjusting for the glycemic status.
Clinical Relevance:
Association between caries and hyperglycemia should consider salivary parameters beyond flow, along with both caries lesion extent and activity outcomes.
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