214 - Salivary pH Testing and Dental Caries in Pediatric Patients

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to assess the correlation between resting salivary pH levels in three groups of pediatric dental patients and surfaces with active decay. The study seeks to potentially establish the viability of resting salivary pH measurements as a predictive tool for determining the risk of dental caries in children.

Methods: Salivary pH assessments were conducted using pH strips on 78 pediatric patients ages 1-12 undergoing dental examinations after a minimum 2-hour period of nothing by mouth. The pH strip was swabbed in the mouth until coated with saliva, and two trained individuals determined the pH score. Simultaneously, dental examinations were performed to obtain the DMFS and number of surfaces with active decay.

Results: There was a strong negative correlation between resting pH and number surfaces of with active decay (Spearman rho = -0.71, p<0.001). Patients in the three groups of g-tube, no decay, and active decay had a mean pH of 6.63, 6.29, and 5.64 respectively (Kruskal-Wallis Test p<0.001). Differences in pH levels between g-tube, no decay, and active decay groups were statistically significant for all Mann-Whitney U post hoc comparisons (p < 0.02).

Conclusions: A negative correlation is present between resting salivary pH levels and dental caries in pediatric patients. Further research is necessary to validate salivary pH testing as a predictive tool for assessing dental caries risk in clinical practice. This tool could potentially aid health care providers to encourage modifications such as frequency of carbohydrate intake and oral hygiene to improve resting salivary pH.