THE CORRELATION OF BLOOD TESTS WITH DMFT SCORES MICROBIOLOGIC COUNTS AND BUFFER CAPACITY OF SALIVA

Over the last decade, there is an increasing interest in possible associations between oral and systemic diseases since the bacteria and/or their products are known to invade the systemic circulation. besides the effects of carious tissue on other teeth, severe caries may have some consequences on the general health such as growth and weight gain retardation, upregulation of some systemic parameters of inflammation. in this study, the possible correlation of dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) scores, with microbiologic counts, the buffer capacity of saliva and certain blood parameters such as blood cells counts and inflammatory cytokins has been analyzed in 152 patients with healthy periodontium. the results showed that in the presence of high s. mutans and lactobacilli and low buffer capacity, there was a statistically significant correlation between dmft scores and il-8, iga, igd, cd4, cd19 and eosinophiles. the results have indicated that also dental caries should be included in the perspective of oral health and systemic health, and they suggest that the dental and medical professions should develop even closer ties in the future