Relationship between cariogenic events and salivary tests in boys and girls: oral examination.

For boys and girls several salivary tests have been correlated with the following early cariogenic processes developing simultaneously in dental enamel: initiation, regression, stabilization and progression. These events were observed clinically during three consecutive intervals. Only correlations, significant during at least two random intervals were discussed. The Snyder test determined at 24 hours was significantly positively correlated with most events confined to the enamel surfaces and only the Snyder test determined at 48 hours in stimulated saliva appeared to be significantly positively related with deeper processes such as progression. In addition, the mineral composition of Ca2+, P and Mg2+ in saliva was significantly related to cariogenic events in the enamel surfaces of girls, and its viscosity for boys. Finally, and most interesting from a clinical point of view, was the fact that caries progression was negatively related with P concentrations in both unstimulated and stimulated saliva for girls. For boys a negative correlation was found between caries progression and flow of stimulated saliva.