TY - JOUR ID - TI - Concentration of salivary magnesium in relation to dental caries among a group of adults AU - Wesal A. Al-Obaidi B.D.S., M.Sc. * د. وصال العبيدي PY - 2006 VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - 145 EP - 149 JO - MUSTANSIRIA DENTAL JOURNAL مجلة المستنصرية لطب الاسنان SN - 26188500 18138500 AB - Magnesium is one of the major cations in plant and animal tissues and is anessential constituent of the bone and tissue, as well as the body fluids. Concentrationsof most electrolytes in saliva are subjected to considerable alteration. The aim of thisstudy was to investigate the salivary magnesium in relation to dental caries. A sampleof 46 adults was involved with age range of 20-45 years. Samples of stimulated salivawere collected and prepared to be analyzed for magnesium estimation using atomicabsorption spectrophotometer. Clinical examination was done for dental caries usingWHO criteria. The salivary magnesium concentration was 0.38mg/dl. Neither the sex,nor the age influenced the concentration of magnesium in supernatant stimulatedsaliva. Negative correlations were found between salivary magnesium and age,salivary flow rate, while, a positive correlation was recorded with dental caries. Allthese associations were not proved to be significant (P<0.05). Further investigationshould be done on whole saliva to clarify the association between magnesium anddental caries. The magnesium relation with the other elements must be considered.

ER -