Frequency of low values of stimulated saliva flow rate, Dentobuff and Dentocult in routine use.

The traditional reference values for salivary tests are derived from special populations using other methods than the screening tests used nowadays in general practice. In order to study the distribution of test results when the "new" methods were used in a routine way on a population seeking care at the Dental School in Huddinge an examination of 753 adults was carried out. Of special interest were the values which in the literature are associated with caries risk. Stimulated salivary flow rate, buffer capacity and lactobacillus counts were determined using the methods taught at the Dental School, which are also used by many dentists in Sweden. Analysis of the frequency distribution of test results show that women had low flow rates (less than or equal to 0.7 ml/min) of stimulated whole saliva considerably more often (10.7%) than men (5.4%). According to the traditional test of buffer capacity, a final pH 4.0 and below is very low. When using Dentobuff almost half of the women (45%) had such low values. About one fifth of the patients had high numbers of lactobacilli, according to the Dentocult test. This examination of the distribution of salivary parameters has led to more critical application of the traditional reference values when assessing caries risk.