Relación entre el uso de prótesis removibles y el pH salival en pacientes de la UCSG.

Abstract

Introduction: The most common therapeutic alternative in edentulous patients is the use of removable prostheses to restore masticatory function and esthetics. Regulated salivary pH is a fundamental parameter for maintaining oral homeostasis, and its variations may lead to pathologies such as caries, candidiasis, and prosthetic stomatitis. Objective: To determine the relationship between the use of removable prostheses and salivary pH in patients at UCSG. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, descriptive-correlational study with a quantitative approach conducted in a sample of 60 edentulous patients, 30 with complete dentures and 30 with partial dentures; measurement was performed using a digital pH meter and saliva samples from each patient. Results: According to the studied parameters, there was a variation in salivary pH before and after 7 days of prosthesis use; however, no relationship was found with the type of prosthesis, prosthetic material, hygiene, age, or sex. Conclusions: Salivary pH was modified after prosthesis placement within the evaluated time period, indicating that time acts as a factor in pH change, although no association was found with the other variables.