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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Aug;151(8):576-588.e4.
doi: 10.1016/j.aime.2020.04.021.

Salivary factors related to caries in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mahtab Yousefi, Parvin Parvaie, Seyed Mohammad Riahi
Meta-Analysis

Salivary factors related to caries in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mahtab Yousefi et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The authors of this meta-analysis aimed to assess saliva-related caries risk factors, including calcium and phosphate, hydrogen ion concentration, buffer capacity, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus counts, flow rate, and decayed, missing and filled teeth index in each trimester during pregnancy.

Types of studies reviewed: The authors searched electronic databases up to July 1, 2019. Eligible observational studies were included. The authors assessed the quality of the included studies by using the Joanna Briggs Institute scale. To estimate the effects of pregnancy, standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using the random-effects model. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests.

Results: Twenty-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 1,230 pregnant women in the case groups and 715 in the control groups (nonpregnant women). The results showed that salivary calcium concentration decreased in the third trimester, salivary phosphate decreased in the second and third trimesters, saliva hydrogen ion concentration decreased in the first and third trimesters, stimulated saliva flow rate increased in the third trimester, and salivary S mutans count increased in the second and third trimesters. In addition, the results showed that saliva calcium, phosphate, S mutans, and buffer capacity amounts had changed from the first trimester to the third.

Conclusions and practical implications: In the third trimester, most salivary factors related to caries change and can increase the risk of developing caries in the future. Interventions and screening for caries prevention in pregnancy should start in the first or second trimesters.

Keywords: DMFT; Pregnant women; Streptococcus mutans; buffer capacity; calcium; caries; flow rate; hydrogen ion concentration; meta-analysis; phosphates; saliva.

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Comment in

  • Study Methods.
    Shetty SS, Jayaraj R, Shetty NJ. Shetty SS, et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020 Dec;151(12):885-886. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2020.10.005. J Am Dent Assoc. 2020. PMID: 33228878 No abstract available.