Relationship among stimulated whole, glandular salivary flow rates, and root caries prevalence in an elderly population: a preliminary study.

A comparison of salivary flow rates was made between two groups of healthy, unmedicated, elderly, Caucasian men and women ranging in age from 60 to 90 years. One group was a control group, while the other group had both active and restored root caries. The control group consisted of 69 individuals with a mean age of 73 years. The root caries group consisted of 39 individuals with a mean age of 71 years. The groups were evaluated for unstimulated (UPAR) and stimulated parotid gland flow rates (SPAR), unstimulated (USUB) and stimulated submandibular/sublingual gland flow rates (SSUB), and stimulated whole saliva flow rates (SWhole). Parotid flow rates were determined with the use of a Carlson-Crittenden cup, while submandibular/sublingual flow rates were determined by means of the NIDR collector. A 2% citrate solution was used for stimulation in glandular collections. Subjects chewed a 1-cm3 cube of paraffin to stimulate whole saliva. The results showed that the control group had higher UPAR, SPAR, USUB, SSUB, and SWhole than the root caries group.