Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association of dental restorations with salivary cariogenic pathogens among the elderly to establish effective parameters of caries risk for this population.
Materials and methods: Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 289 community-dwelling older adults (66.2 ± 3.9 years old) who had 20 or more teeth. Salivary levels of three cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and lactobacilli) were estimated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method.
Results: The mean number of residual teeth was 26.4, and restored teeth with crowns, inlays and composite resin were 7.35, 3.88 and 0.68, respectively. The number of crowns correlated positively with salivary S. mutans, S. sobrinus and lactobacilli. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the number of restored teeth with crowns was independently associated with salivary S. mutans, S. sobrinus and lactobacilli after controlling for age, gender, number of residual teeth and salivary flow rate. Salivary flow rate was independently associated with salivary S. mutans and lactobacilli.
Conclusion: The number of crowns had an association with salivary levels of cariogenic bacteria, suggesting that this parameter may be a caries risk indicator for the elderly population.
© 2011 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.