Association Between Caries Activity and Saliva in Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between caries activity, salivary flow and metabolic syndrome (MS).
Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 75 obese patients without MS (GN) and 75 morbid obese patients (GMS) from Hospital Amaral Carvalho, Jaú-SP, Brazil. Dental caries was assessed by ICDAS, by a single assessor calibrated in the system (Kappa > 0.88). Stimulate salivary flow was collected according to circadian cycle (mL/min). Obesity was defined by Body Mass Index (BMI). Student’s t test, Chi-square and Odds Ratio was adopted for statistical analysis (P<0.05).
Results: The presence of dental caries was found in 43% of GMS and 39% of GN. The salivary flow test showed that hyposalivation was found in 75% of the GMS and 72% of the GN. The GN showed greater sound tooth (P=0.000) and the GMS showed greater change in enamel (P=0.000). There were no relationship among MS and dental caries and salivary flow (p>0.05).
Conclusions: The patients with metabolic syndrome presented greater change in enamel. The ICDAS index is better measure to assessment the progression of dental caries.