Clinical oral and salivary parameters of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical oral and salivary parameters of individuals with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

STUDY

DESIGN

Clinical parameters and whole saliva were collected from children aged 6 to 12 years with JIA (n = 36) and from a healthy, matched control group (n = 36). The clinical and salivary parameters evaluated were the dental caries (decayed, missing, or filled teeth), gingival and simplified oral hygiene indices, salivary flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, total protein, and secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations.

RESULTS

JIA individuals presented poorer oral hygiene (P ≤ .05) but no difference in the dental caries and gingival indices. JIA patients presented an increase in total protein concentration (86%) and buffer capacity in the range of pH 6.9 to 6.0 (10%) and a reduction in initial pH (6%), buffer capacity in the range of pH ≥ 7.0 (50%), and immunoglobulin A concentration (27%) (P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSIONS

JIA is associated with poor oral hygiene and salivary changes, including reductions in immune factors and an altered profile of salivary buffer capacity.