Relación entre los niveles de pH salival y caries dental en pacientes atendidos en la Clínica Odontológica de la Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is a multifactorial pathology that manifests itself with normally progressive lesions. This disease begins with the accumulation of bacterial plaque that causes an acidic salivary medium, maintaining a critical pH of 5.5, with effects on tooth enamel causing its demineralization. Objective: To determine the relationship between salivary pH levels and dental caries in patients treated at the dental clinic of the Santiago de Guayaquil Catholic University. Materials and methods: The present work is of a prospective quantitative approach. The study population is made up of adult patients between the ages of 18- 45, male and female, who attended the dental clinic of the Santiago de Guayaquil Catholic University in the A- 2022 semester. Clinical inspections were performed to determine the salivary pH level, DMFT Index, IHOS. Results: The DMFT index was 9.87%, indicating a very high index. 94.9% of caries patients have an acid pH. 87.1% of caries-free patients have a neutral pH. Conclusion: It is concluded that, in patients with caries who attended the dental clinic of the Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil in semester A-2022, they presented a high level of acid pH (94%), while in patients without caries they presented a neutral salivary pH, demonstrating that there is a direct relationship between salivary pH and dental caries.