Oral health and salivary factors in rural schoolchildren.

The aim of the present study was to assess the association between some salivary factors and the oral health status of rural schoolchildren of Córdoba (Argentina). The study involved 19 students (aged 5-14 years) who attended 8 rural schools of the region. We determined indices (r)dmf-t, (r)DMF-T and S-OHI. pH, salivary flow (vol/min), protein concentration, calcium and phosphate levels and the molar Ca/P ratio were evaluated in stimulated saliva. The arithmetic mean and standard error were assessed for each of the parameters. We employed the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to assess the similarities and differences between salivary components for the splits (r)dmft = 0, (r)dmft > 0, (r)DMFT = 0 and (r)DMFT > 0. We observed a positive correlation (Spearman's coefficient, p < or = 0.05) between the concentration of proteins, calcium, phosphate and salivary flow. The mean values for the salivary parameters evaluated evidence differences in the oral health status between the different schools under study. In five of the schools evaluated, the variables that best explain the condition of caries disease were concentration of proteins, calcium, phosphate, and the Ca/P molar ratio. The variation observed in the oral health indicators, volume/minute and salivary components between schools evidences the need to perform individual studies for each school and consider the needs and possibilities of each community when designing programs to promote oral health.