Abstract
The present study was undertaken to know the relationship between the contents of inorganic substances in whole saliva and calculus formation, and between flow rate of whole saliva and calculus formation.
Forty eight male and eighty one female patients whose ages were from 20 to 63 were examined in the present study. The patients were divided into four groups according to the extent of calculus deposition in supragingiva, using the Volpe's method (1965).
Calcium and magnesium contents in unstimulated whole saliva were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and phosphorus contents, by Eastoe's method (1965). Flow rate of whole saliva per one minute was measured.
The content rate of calcium was significantly higher in heavy calculus formers than light calculus formers. There were no significant differences in phosphorus, magnesium and flow rate between heavy calculus formers and light calculus formers.
Further, in the present study, the relationship between the contents of inorganic substances in whole saliva and caries susceptibility, and between calculus formation and caries susceptibility were examined. Flow rate of whole saliva per one minute was measured.
The content rate of magnesium in whole saliva was significantly higher in caries-active patients than in caries-free patients. But there were no significant differences in calcium, phosphorus and flow rate between caries-active patients and caries-free patients. The heavy calculus formers showed the tendency to have fewer caries.
