Author(s): Rio, Rute ; Azevedo, Álvaro ; Simões-Silva, Liliana ; Marinho, Jorge ; Silva, Mário Jorge ; Sampaio-Maia, Benedita
Date: 2015
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/34864
Origin: Veritati - Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Subject(s): Saliva; Pregnancy; PH; Calcium; Phosphorous; Glucose; Saliva; Gravidez; Cálcio; Fósforo; Glicose
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Sialometric and sialochemical analyses during pregnancy are not consistent, and frequently contradictory in terms of salivary flow rate, pH, and concentration of calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and α-amylase. We, therefore, measured the evolution of these parameters throughout pregnancy. METHOD: A cross-sectional study compared sialometric and sialochemical analyses of 30 pregnant women vs. 30 age-matched non-pregnant women, and a longitudinal study evaluated the pregnant women in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: Pregnant women presented acidic non-stimulated saliva, but neutral stimulated saliva pH, and no relevant changes in salivary flow rate. Scialochemical analysis showed decreased calcium levels, increased phosphate levels, and a progressive decrease in glucose levels throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy significantly changes the oral biochemical milieu, creating a favorable environment for the development of oral pathology, in particular, dental caries.
