Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) scores, caries activity, and salivary characteristics (flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity) in patients admitted to the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Kocaeli University Faculty of Dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 44 patients aged 18-50 years, classified into high and low caries risk groups, who presented to our clinic. A DMFT score above 8 and the presence of at least two active carious lesions with cavitation (ICDAS II Categories 5 or 6) were considered criteria for the high caries risk group. Conversely, patients with five or fewer carious or restored teeth and no active caries were classified as low caries risk. Saliva samples were collected prior to any restorative procedures. Salivary flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity were measured using the Saliva-Check Buffer Kit (GC Europe, Leuven, Belgium). The correlation between caries activity and salivary buffering capacity was analyzed using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Tukey's and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: The highest buffering capacity was observed in the high-risk group aged 25-50 years, while the lowest was found in the high-risk group aged 18-25 years (p = 0.028). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of both unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates. CONCLUSION: In the absence of pathological conditions, a physiologically low salivary flow rate does not appear to significantly influence caries risk. A meaningful relationship between salivary factors and caries risk becomes evident only when salivary flow is severely reduced.