A STUDY OF THE POSSIBLE CORRELATION OF HIGH SALIVARY CALCIUM LEVELS WITH PERIODONTAL AND DENTAL CONDITIONS IN YOUNG-ADULTS

The periodontal bone level and the number of erupted and intact teeth were assessed from the X-rays of 46 dental students (mean age 24.2 yr). Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected in a standarized way and the salivary flow-rate was measured. The salivary concentration of calcium was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the salivary Ca level. Subjects with salivary Ca levels over the mean value (51.03-mu-g/ml) were included in the 'high salivary Ca group' (n = 20). Age- and sex-matched pairs showing Ca levels below the mean formed the 'low salivary Ca group' (n = 26). The results show that subjects in the high salivary Ca-group had significantly more intact teeth than their pairs in the low salivary Ca group (p < 0.025). There was no difference in the total number of teeth present nor in the salivary flow rate. No periodontal breakdown could be detected in any of the X-rays. It seems that in young adults high salivary Ca content can be correlated with good dental health but not with periodontal bone destruction.