Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the salivary secretion, pH, and buffer capacity between COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated child patients visiting the clinics of private university dental hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This is the first comparative assessment of salivary parameters between unvaccinated and COVID-19-vaccinated child patients. The study sample comprised COVID-19 unvaccinated (n = 66) and vaccinated (n = 66) pediatric dental patients aged 4- 12 years seeking dental care in clinics of private university hospitals. Paraffin-stimulated saliva was collected from unvaccinated and vaccinated study participants, and the amount of saliva secreted per minute was noted. Salivary pH and buffering capacity (by 5 mmol Hydrochloric acid titration) were measured using a benchtop digital pH meter. The data obtained were compared between unvaccinated and vaccinated participants using an independent t-test.
Results: The results showed a significantly higher salivary secretion rate in unvaccinated than vaccinated study participants (0.83 +/- 0.24 mL/min vs 0.67 +/- 0.24 mL/min, p = 0.001). Similarly, unvaccinated subjects compared to vaccinated subjects exhibited a significantly higher pH (7.33 +/- 0.39 vs 7.04 +/- 0.46, p < 0.001) and buffering capacity (6.31 +/- 1.55 vs 5.40 +/- 1.22, p < 0.001). Moreover, unvaccinated females demonstrated a significantly higher salivary secretion (0.87 +/- 0.23 vs 0.71 +/- 0.25, t = 2.627, p = 0.011) and buffering capacity 6.19 +/- 1.52 vs 5.34 +/- 1.25, t = 2.404, p = 0.019) than vaccinated females. Similarly, unvaccinated male exhibited significantly higher salivary secretion (0.80 +/- 0.25 vs 0.64 +/- 0.23, t = 2.670, p = 0.009), salivary pH (7.39 +/- 0.45 vs 6.94 +/- 0.41, t=4.309, p< 0.001) and buffering capacity (6.42 +/- 1.60 vs 5.45 +/- 1.21, t = 2.875, p = 0.005) than the vaccinated male subjects.
Conclusion: The vaccinated subjects showed a significantly lower mean salivary secretion, pH, and buffering capacity than unvaccinated participants. Hence, COVID-19 vaccination is likely to affect salivary parameters among pediatric patients.
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