"correlation between ph, concentration of ca2+, p3+, na+ and k+ of saliva and dmvf index in 118 dentistry students of tehran university of medical sciences "

118 dentistry students were studied to show the possible correlation between ph, concentration of ca2+, p3+, na+, and k+ of saliva and decay, missing, and filling tooth (dmft index). candidates were between 20 and 30 years old and had no background systemic disorders; medial and dental histories, age, sex, and dmft index were recorded in a questionnaire organized for this purpose. saliva samples were collected according to the unstimulated whole saliva method. saliva was expectorated into the test tubes and the ph, ca2+, p3+, na+, and k+ measured. results from case and control groups were compared and statistically analyzed. it was concluded that there was no meaningful correlation between ph, concentration of ca2+, p3+, na+, and k+ and dental decay in the population, where as in men there was a meaningful association between ph and decay. also in women alone there was a relative correlation between concentration of p3+ and decay (pv=0.06).