Chair-side saliva diagnostic tests: An evaluation tool for xerostomia and caries risk assessment in children with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate how the level of metabolic control affects salivary function, xerostomia prevalence and incidence of caries, in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: For the purpose of this study, a total of 150 children and adolescents (10-18 years old) were examined and allocated among 3 groups: 50 patients poorly-controlled (HbA1c>/=7.5%), 50 well-controlled (HbA1c<7.5%) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All subjects were examined for dental caries, oral hygiene and salivary factors. Assessments of salivary characteristics included self-reported xerostomia, quantification of resting and stimulated whole saliva flow rates, pH values, buffering capacity and saliva's viscosity. A questionnaire and a chair-side saliva testing kit were used for the evaluation of salivary function. Caries incidence was recorded using DMFT index. Plaque index and gingival index were additionally evaluated. Data were analysed by Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Higher caries levels, higher prevalence of xerostomia and a decreased unstimulated salivary flow rate were recorded in poorly-controlled diabetics. The average caries indexes were DMFT(poor c) 3.6, DMFT(well c)1.2, DMFT(healthy) 1.5, p < 0.05). Salivary status and caries index were not found to be significantly different between well-controlled patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that chair-side salivary tests provide the practitioners with an easy-to use and quick method for the evaluation of salivary function and caries risk assessment in young patients with diabetes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of chair-side salivary tests provide the practitioners with an easy-to use and quick method for caries risk assessment and confirmation of clinical symptoms and signs in young patients with diabetes. They could be easily incorporated into daily office routine and may provide a useful tool for screening at risk patients and a simple way to communicate with the patients the need for further interventions for prevention.