ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the correlation between maxillofacial morphology and caries risk, assessed using salivary tests, in orthodontic patients. Despite enhancing the oral health-related quality of life, orthodontic treatment may adversely affect oral hygiene and increase caries risk. This study included 1071 patients all of whom underwent orthodontic examinations and salivary tests before starting orthodontic treatment at a hospital. Salivary tests were performed to assess the secretion rate, pH, buffering capacity, and counts of cariogenic bacteria. The maxillofacial morphology was evaluated using cephalometric X-rays and dental models. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations among salivary characteristics, bacterial scores, and maxillofacial morphology. Notably, the facial angle and Y-axis values were associated with salivary secretion (p < 0.001), pH (p < 0.001), buffering capacity (p < 0.05), and cariogenic bacterial scores (p < 0.01), respectably. In conclusion, assessing the maxillofacial morphology before orthodontic treatment may aid in predicting the risk of bacterial oral diseases, offering valuable insights into personalized preventive measures. These findings underscore the potential for comprehensive evaluations to enhance caries risk assessment in orthodontic patients.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo: El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar y comparar algunos parámetros salivales en niños preescolares e investigar su relación con caries temprana de la infancia. Materiales y métodos: Un total de 77 niños preescolares de 36 a 71 meses de edad (38 con caries y 39 sin caries) fueron seleccionados para participar en este estudio. Muestras de saliva completa no estimulada fueron recolectadas de cada niño, para evaluar el pH salival, la capacidad buffer, la velocidad de flujo salival y las concentraciones de fluoruro y fosfato. Los datos obtenidos fueron tabulados y sometidos a análisis estadístico. Resultados: En la evaluación de los diferentes parámetros salivales, se encontró que en relación a las propiedades salivales, el pH en los niños con caries fue levemente menor que en los niños sin caries. La comparación de las diferentes características salivales entre niños con y sin caries temprana de la infancia, no mostró diferencias estadísticas significativas para todos los componentes salivales evaluados (p> 0.05). Conclusión: Los parámetros salivales analizados en este estudio, no tuvieron relación con el desarrollo de caries temprana de la infancia. Los resultados obtenidos no difieren de manera significativa entre los dos grupos de niños preescolares estudiados.
Objective: The present study aims to evaluate and compare some salivary parameters in preschool children and to investigate their relationship with early childhood caries. Materials and Methods: A total of 77 preschool children aged 36 to 71 months (38 with caries and 39 without caries) were selected to participate in this study. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from every child to evaluate the salivary pH, buffering capacity, salivary flow rate and fluoride and phosphate concentrations. The data obtained was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: the evaluation of the different salivary parameters showed that in relation to salivary properties, the pH in children with early childhood caries was slightly lower than in children without caries. Comparing the different salivary characteristics between children with and without early childhood caries, the results did not show significant statistical differences for all the salivary components evaluated (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The salivary parameters analyzed in this study were not related to the development of early childhood caries. The results obtained do not differ significantly between the two groups of preschool children studied.
