Dental erosion and saliva parameters in Hungarian adolescents

Objectives: The aim was to investigate dental erosion in school-children regarding their saliva parameters. Methods: After obtaining the ethical approval (TUKEB: 40/2008) clinical data of 49 Hungarian adolescents (mean age 14.27±0.67 year) were analysed by Lussi's erosion index. 38 persons have agreed to be involved into saliva investigations. Salivary secretion rate was assessed by collecting resting and stimulated saliva. Flow rate, buffering capacity and pH of the mouth were determined. The data were statistically analysed by SPSS for Windows program using the Chi-Square test. Results: Dental erosion was found in 75.5% of the adolescents (at 37 children: boys 92.3%, girls 69.4%), the prevalence in boys was significantly higher. The most affected locations were the four first molars' occlusal and the incisors' buccal and incisal surfaces. More surfaces affected by erosion - although not significant -were found in boys, than in girls (14.27±23.82 and 9.70±11.85). If the secretion rate of resting saliva was lower, than 0.35 ml/min, the total sum of eroded surfaces/capita was higher, however this different was not significant (15.88±22.90 and 7.50±6.80). The secretion rate of stimulated saliva was significantly higher in adolescents affected by dental erosion, than in the patients without erosion (1.44±0.62 ml/min and 1.04±0.27 ml/min, p=0.01). The buffering capacity of the stimulated saliva was found also higher in erosive pupils, but this difference was not significant (3.72±0.68 and 3.43±0.24, p=0.062). There was no difference in the pH values between adolescents with (7.33±0.67) or without (7.33±0.71) erosion. Conclusion: The high rates of dental erosion in Hungarian adolescents require effective effort to prevent the process. Our contradictory results on the secretion rate might be explained by the increased production of saliva in patients with erosion, due to an increased acidic effect. For proving this theory a higher number of patients and examinations will be required.