Influence of salivary volume in the interpretation of No Caries® test

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: To verify the influence of salivary volume on the interpretation of the colorimetric No Caries® test (NC), which evaluates bacteriological risk of dental caries and self-care, by the use of two test tubes together (NC1+NC2), respective for Streptococcus mutans and Neisseria bucalis. Material and Methods: The pipette supplied with the product was substituted by an automatic pipette, standardizing the solution-test and the salivary volumes. Samples of 16 students‘ saliva were collected and inoculated in the volumes 20µl, 30µl and 50µl, in order to obtain 3 diagnoses (D20, D30 and D50) per person, which were crossed among themselves, making it noticeable to see variations among the results (NC1 and NC2) and diagnoses (NC1 + NC2). Results: For NC1, predominance of the number of samples with the same results (54,2%), independently of the crossing of volumes; for NC2, predominance of different results (58,3%). For the diagnoses of risk and self-care, predominance of the number of samples with the same diagnosis (62,5%). The statistical test of Kruskal-Wallis indicated greater significance to the level of 1% for the results NC1 and NC2. Regarding the diagnosis, it did not show any significance for any of the crossings. Conclusions: The salivary volume has influence over the results of the test tubes; the influence of salivary volume on the diagnosis is minimized by the form of elaboration of the No Caries® test, making studies advisable on the verification of sensibility and specificity of the product. Descriptors Saliva. Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria.