Does saliva composition affect the formation of sialolithiasis?

OBJECTIVE: Saliva composition may affect sialolithiasis formation; thus, this study compared the salivary inorganic composition of sialolithiasis patients with that of healthy controls, and determined whether salivary inorganic composition changes after sialolithiasis surgery. METHODS: The study included 40 patients with sialolithiasis and 40 matched healthy controls. Patients were examined before and after sialolithiasis surgery; controls were examined once. Flow rate and the inorganic saliva composition in unstimulated whole saliva were assessed. RESULTS: Patients' salivary flow prior to surgery was significantly lower compared to that of healthy controls, but equalised after surgery. Prior to surgery, patients' saliva exhibited higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous compared to that of healthy controls. The concentration of most ions remained high after sialolithiasis surgery. CONCLUSION: Sialolithiasis patients had increased salivary concentrations of the ions that constitute the main inorganic phase of most sialoliths, and this may confer a risk for developing sialolithiasis.