CORRELATION BETWEEN DENTAL CARIES WITH SALIVARY FLOW, PH, AND BUFFERING CAPACITY IN ADULT SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION: AN IN-VIVO STUDY

Aim of the study is to evaluate the correlation between dental caries and salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity in young adult South Indian population. According to DMFT scores eighty subjects between 20 to 30 years of age were divided into four groups. Saliva samples collected were estimated for salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity and the data was statistically analysed. The pH, flow rate, buffering capacity showed a steady decrease with an increase in the DMFT values; which was statistically significant. The salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity increases with decrease in caries activity.