Whole saliva flow rates of adults and complete denture users

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the changes in salivary flow rate and pH in young dentate adolescents and the patients using complete dentures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten adolescents ( mean age 21.8 years) four male and six female, and ten complete denture wearing patients (mean age 62.2 years) five male and five female participated in this study. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected between 9 and 11 am for 5 min. by requesting the subject to expectorate the saliva into a vessel for five minutes. Unsitumulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rates of the healty complete denture wearing patients were measured 3 days after the insertion of the complete dentures. The pH value of the unstimulated whole saliva was measured immediately after collection. UWS flow rate was calculated by collected volume/ collection time and expressed in mL/ min. RESULTS: The UWS flow rates of the patients wearing complete dentures were lower compared to healty total dentate adolescents (0,52 vs 0,74 mL/ min), yet the mean pH for both groups were not significantly different (7,51 vs 7,67) CONCLUSIONS: While the salivary flow rate was reduced in eldery patients wearing complete dentures, pH values were not changed due to the age differences. Among the elderly patients flow rate of the male population was higher than the female population.