PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF ORAL FLUID BUFFERING CAPACITY FOR ASSESSING DENTAL CARIES RISK IN INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35220/2523-420X/2026.1.21Keywords:
dental caries, children, internally displaced persons, oral fluid, buffering capacity, preventionAbstract
Under the conditions of martial law in Ukraine, the number of internally displaced children suffering from chronic stress has increased. This negatively affects oral homeostasis, specifically the buffering capacity of oral fluid, which is a key factor in caries resistance. The aim of the study was to improve the efficiency of dental caries prediction in internally displaced children aged 6-13 years by studying the characteristics of oral fluid buffering capacity in comparison with their peers permanently residing in Ternopil city and the region. Materials and Methods. A clinical and laboratory examination was conducted on 87 children aged 6-9 years (main group) and 96 children of the comparison group, as well as 62 children aged 10-13 years (main group) and 130 children of the comparison group. The status of hard dental tissues and oral fluid buffering capacity were determined. pH measurement was performed using the potentiometric method (B. Krasse method). Statistical data processing was carried out using Studentʼs t-test. Results. It was established that a statistically significant decrease in oral fluid buffering capacity is observed in IDP children. In the 6-9 age group, mean values were 11.01 % lower, p<0.01, compared to local children. In the 10-13 age group, low buffering capacity in the presence of dental caries was identified in 51.62 % of children in the main group, versus 41.54 % in the comparison group. Critically low pH values were recorded in IDP children with dental caries. Conclusions. It has been proven that the reduction of oral fluid buffering capacity in IDP children is an objective prognostic marker of high caries susceptibility. This justifies the expediency of using this indicator for the early detection of risk groups and the timely prescription of agents for correcting the acid-base balance of the oral cavity.
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