Relationship between risk of dental caries and saliva crystallization in preschool children

Abstract

Background: Saliva is a multi-component biological fluid that, with the help of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, creates ion exchange, remineralizes teeth, and protects teeth from the effects of bacterial acids that accumulate on tooth enamel. The content of these minerals in saliva is important. When saliva dries in the air, it becomes crystalline conglomerates, forming microcrystals, and based on this characteristic, the risk of caries is assessed. In our country, there is no study comparing the intensity of caries in children with saliva crystallization, which is the reason for conducting this study. Aim: Determining relationship between risk of dental caries and saliva crystallization in preschool children using Materials and Methods: The study included 41 four-year-old children and determined the state of caries and saliva crystallization by means of assessed, oral examinations, and instrumental tests. When assessing the risk of dental caries by saliva crystallization, while in the morning before brushing your teeth, collect about 1 ml of saliva from the bottom of the mouth with a sterile pipette, drop 2-3 drops of the saliva sample on a glass holder, dry at room temperature, determine the type of crystallization with a BX-10 electron microscope, and determine the type of crystallization between dendrites distances were calculated using the “ScopeImage 9.0” analysis program. The results of the research were processed using STATA and EXCEL programs. Results: The study included 21 (51.22%) female and 20 (48.78%) male children. The prevalence of dental caries was 97.5% and the intensity was 9.824.38 dmft. When evaluating the number of decayed teeth according to the “Виноградова” scale, 2.44% of the participants had 1-3 decayed teeth, 14.63% had 3-5 decayed teeth, and 80.49% had more than 5 decayed teeth. In participants type 1 of crystallization, the intensity of caries was 8.764.46 dmft, for type 2 was 10.084.07 dmft, and for type 3 was 11.45.77 dmft. A weak and positive correlation was found between crystallization parameters and the number of treated teeth (r=0.11, p=0.05). The mean dendrite length was 132.7µm. There was a negative and weak correlation between the saliva pH and crystallization type (r=0.11, p=0.04*). Conclusion: The caries rate of the study subjects was relatively high, the prevalence of type 2 crystallization indicated the risk of caries, and there was a statistically significant relationship between caries and crystallization.