SALIVA AND PREVALENCE OF CAVITIES

Saliva and Prevalence of Cavities

Saliva and Prevalence of Cavities

Introduction

Dental caries is a multifactoral disease and despite the advances in prevention, promotion and treatment is still one of the biggest public health problems affecting the United States (U.S.) and its health care system. Saliva is a first line of defense against the development of dental decay and other oral problems through both its physio-chemical properties (i.e., pH and flow rate) and a variety of salivary components (e.g., lactoferrin, secretory IgA, and enzymes). Studies have shown inconsistent results with the effect of age and gender on salivary flow rates but there is consensus that a reduction in saliva flow increases the patient's risk of getting caries. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship of age, gender and ethnicity, on glandular salivary flow rates and dental caries in an adult population using data collected in the Oral Health San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (OH-SALSA).

Parotid Gland

The parotid gland is the biggest of the salivary glands. It is discovered covered around the mandibular ramus, and it secretes saliva through Stensen's duct into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing. The parotid gland is discovered overlying the mandibular ramus and anterior and inferior to the external ear. The gland lives at the parotid fascial space, an locality posterior to the mandibular ramus, anterior and inferior to the ear. The gland expands irregularly from the zygomatic arch to the angle of the mandible.

Submandibular Glands

The submandibular glands are a two of glands located beneath the smaller jaws, superior to the digastric muscles. The secretion made is a blend of both serous fluid and mucus, and goes into the oral cavity by Wharton's ducts. roughly 70% of saliva in the oral cavity is produced by the submandibular glands, even though they are much smaller than the parotid glands.

Sublingual Gland

The sublingual glands are a two of glands located beneath the tongue to the submandibular glands. The secretion made is mostly mucous in environment, however it is categorized as a mixed gland. Unlike the other two foremost glands, the ductal system of the sublingual glands do not have striated ducts, and exit from 8-20 excretory ducts. roughly 5% of saliva going into the oral cavity arrive from these glands.

Epidemiological and Clinical Meta-Analyses of Caries Prevalence

The nearly universal pattern of sex differences in dental caries prevalence is more widely appreciated by epidemiological ...