Asociación del pH salival y la caries dental en pacientes fumadores y no fumadores de la clínica de la UCSG

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is defined as a chronic disease that can increase the risk of developing dental caries because it reduces saliva production, alters the normal salivary pH of the mouth, which can negatively affect health. Objective: To determine the association of Salivary pH and dental caries in smokers and non-smokers at the UCSG clinic. Materials and methods: The focus of this study is quantitative and prospective with an experimental-descriptive design. This work was carried out at the UCSG dental clinic where samples were collected in the chairs of Integral Clinic I and Integral Clinic II from June 5, 2023 to July 27, 2023 in a total universe of 85 patients with a sample obtained from 66 individuals applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of caries in patients who attend the clinic is 100% in both groups. The frequency of cigarette consumption of smoking patients is mostly light. The smoking patients presented a high rate of caries with a higher level of destruction affecting more than 50% of the dental piece than the nonsmoking patients who presented a moderate rate of caries with dark shadows in the dentin without destruction of the enamel. Likewise, the pH of the smoking patients was more acidic than that of the non-smokers, which was slightly acidic and in some cases neutral. Conclusion: The smoking patients presented a more acidic salivary pH with a higher prevalence of caries in the mouth and more destruction due to injury. caring than non-smokers.