Evaluation of the Salivary Parameters (pH, Buffering Capacity and Flow Rate) and Dental Caries Status in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Control Study

Background and objectives: Children with cerebral palsy suffer from oral and dental problems more than healthy children, this may be due to poor motor control of orofacial muscles and bad oral hygiene. The objectives of this study are to measure the salivary parameters, dental caries status, to find any correlation between them, and to compare these data with that of healthy siblings. Results: Dental caries were significantly higher in the study group, for the primary teeth P-value = 0.035, and for the permanent teeth P-value = 0.005, salivary flow rate and buffering capacity were significantly lower in the study group, P-value = 0.000 for both of them. pH shows no significant difference, P-value = 0.303, significant correlations noted between both the salivary flow rate and the buffering capacity with dental caries in primary dentition in the study group, P-values = 0.015. Conclusion: Low salivary flow rate and buffering capacity in children with cerebral palsy might be risk factors for dental caries, so, these parameters could be used as screening tools for detecting children who are at risk of dental caries.