Relation of Salivary Risk Factors to Dental Caries in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

One of the primary handicapping conditions of childhood is cerebral palsy (CP). Controversy exists about the incidence of dental caries and its associated salivary risk factors in cerebral palsied children. Thus the present study evaluated the correlation between dental caries and certain salivary risk factors in these children. One hundred non-institutionalized children in the age group of 5-12 years having cerebral palsy were selected. The W.H.O. criteria was used for diagnosis and recording of dental caries. Determination of the unstimulated salivary pH, buffering capacity and flow rate of stimulated saliva was carried out. The mean deft and DMFT values were 2.51 and 0.73, respectively. Salivary pH was 6.83, buffering capacity 10.84 and salivary flow rate 1.08ml/per min. A significant correlation was observed only between salivary pH and dental caries in the primary dentition of CP children.