Objective: The ability to accurately predict the risk of dental caries would be a breakthrough in its treatment and a considerable improve on communities’ oral health. Nowadays, the treatment of dental caries is performed without taking into account the risk assessment, simply because there is still no analytical and objective way for its consideration. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible correlation between the saliva’s pH and the respective DMFT index from children from 5 to 10 years old. Materials and Methods: 184 samples of unstimulated saliva were collected from the same number of children aged 5 to 10 years after performing the respective clinical evaluation. In this clinical examination was assessed the existence of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMF index). The salivary pH measurement was performed using a digital meter. To the legal guardians of those children was asked to fill in a questionnaire in order to assess their current health status and their oral hygiene habits. The data were analysed using the software IBM SPSS Statistics®, v20.0.0.0. Results: There were 184 children who met the criteria for inclusion, and the prevalence of dental caries was observed in 76%. There were correlations between the salivary pH and gender (ρ= 0.040) and between salivary pH and the number of teeth filled permanent (p = 0.034). There was no correlation between age and the salivary pH (ρ = 0.723), the use of fluoride mouthwash (ρ = 0.920), use of systemic fluoride (ρ = 0.672), the use of dental floss (ρ = 0.467), the frequency of brushing (ρ = 0.457), the DMF index (ρ = 0.808) and the dmf index (ρ = 0.273). Conclusion: Salivary pH is not, by itself, predictor of DMF/dmf index.
Date of Award | 24 Oct 2014 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Andreia Sofia de Paiva Figueiredo (Supervisor) & Mariana Pinheiro Torres de Seabra (Co-Supervisor) |
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- Salivary pH
- Saliva
- DMF index
- Oral hygiene
- Risk assessment
- Mestrado em Medicina Dentária
pH salivar: preditor do índice CPO/cpo?
Henriques, L. R. A. (Student). 24 Oct 2014
Student thesis: Master's Thesis