Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of saliva secreted and calcium, bicarbonate, and phosphate ion concentration in patients receiving antihypertensive for five years or over
five years (patient group) and in healthy patients (control group). Material and methods: The patient
or experimental group included 31 subjects who were admitted to a cardiovascular clinic and had
been receiving an antihypertensive drug therapy for more than five years. The control group included 31 healthy subjects. The measured amount of saliva was further used to determine the calcium,
phosphate and bicarbonate ion concentration values. Calcium and phosphate ions were determined
spectrophotometrically, while bicarbonate ions were determined by titration. Results: A two-waytest (Student’s test) was used to compare the values of variables. The amount of excreted saliva was
statistically significantly lower in the patient group in non-stimulated (1.739 mL/5 min) and stimulated saliva (3.594 mL/5 min). Calcium ion concentration was statistically significantly lower in patient
group in resting saliva (6.143 mg/dL). Bicarbonate and phosphate ion concentration in patient group
was statistically significantly higher in non-stimulated (bicarbonate ion = 14.041 mmol/L, phosphate
ion = 2.818 mmol/L) and stimulated saliva (bicarbonate ion = 10.872 mmol/L, phosphate ion = 1.454
mmol/L), respectively. Conclusion: A reduced amount of saliva and calcium ion concentration indicates the possibility of a higher frequency of hard dental tissue demineralization process. On the contrary, the increase in the phosphate and bicarbonate ion concentration in the patient group affects
the regulation of acid-base balance, thus having a preventive effect.
