Caries prevalence and salivary and microbial conditions in 88-year-old Swedish dentate people

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Abstract
As part of comprehensive investigation of 88-year-old people, caries prevalence, stimulated salivary secretion rate, buffer capacity, and the prevalence of lactobacilli and mutans streptococci were studied in subsample of 92 dentate subjects. The mean number of remaining teeth was 14.1 ± 7.3. The DMFT was 25.2 ± 3.0, and DF surfaces 38.3 ± 22.7. Root caries experience was found in 85% of the subjects, with mean root caries index of 36.6 + 28.5%. The men had significantly higher mean values of salivary secretion rate (2.0 ± 1.3 ml/min) than the women (1.1 ± 0.6 ml/min) (p < 0.001). The mean final pH of buffer capacity was 6.3 ± 1.3. High counts of lactobacilli (> 106) and mutans streptococci (>106) were found in 49% and 55% of the subjects, respectively, of whom most were denture wearers. The mean number of total mutans streptococci was higher in persons harboring both Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus than in subjects with only S. mutans.