Caries Index and Salivary Factors in Children: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Oral Health Research
• Biomarkers in Caries

Background:

• Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease in Spanish children.
• This study focused on children aged 6-12 years attending a university dental clinic.
• Assessing caries risk and prevalence is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) protocol in pediatric patients.
• To determine the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index in the study sample.
• To analyze clinical and salivary indicators, including plaque index, salivary pH, and buffering capacity.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 89 children aged 6-12 years.
• Measurement of clinical indicators and salivary parameters.
• Application of the CAMBRA protocol for caries risk assessment and division into control (DMFT=0) and case (DMFT>0) groups.

Main Results:

• 65.2% of participants exhibited a high risk of caries according to CAMBRA.
• The average DMFT index was 0.65, with a plaque index of 57.2%.
• Salivary pH was 7.35 (±0.30), stimulated saliva volume averaged 6.83 mL (±3.68), and buffering capacity was normal in 57% of cases. Significant differences in salivary pH and volume were observed between control and case groups.

Conclusions:

• The CAMBRA protocol identified a high caries risk in over half of the pediatric population studied.
• Customized treatment plans are essential for managing pediatric caries.
• Salivary pH and volume are important biomarkers for identifying caries risk and should be integrated into clinical practice.