Salivary pH and Buffer Correlation To DMF-T Index Mental Retardation

Objectives: To determine the correlation of salivary pH and buffer capacity with DMF-T index among mentally retarded students in SLB-C TPA Jember. Methods: This study was an observational study with a sample of 11 mentally retarded students in SLB-C TPA Jember. Sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling. Clinical examination of caries was conducted and DMF-T index was calculatied as the sum of the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth. Saliva samples were collected with the unstimulated method using the salivary collecting cup and the pH measurement was taken by using the pH meter. Salivary buffer capacity measuring the concentration of bicarbonate was taken using buffer test strips. Results: The value of the DMF-T index was high with a mean score of 5.6. Salivary buffer was low with a mean value of 7.0. Salivary pH was normal with a mean value of 7.4. No significant correlation between salivary pH and DMF-T index (Pearson correlation = 0.420, p > 0.05) and between salivary buffer and DMF-T index (Pearson correlation = 0.058, p > 0.05) was found. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is there was no correlation between salivary pH and buffer capacity with DMF-T index among mentally retarded students in  SLB-C TPA Jember.