ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the unstimulated salivary flow, pH, and buffering capacity and their associations with systemic conditions and medication use in independently living aged. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 72 participants with a minimum of 60 years recruited in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A questionnaire was used to collect age, sex, presence of systemic diseases, and medications in continuous use. Salivary data collection was performed to determine unstimulated salivary flow, pH, and buffering capacity. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed (p<0.05). Results: Most of the sample had at least one systemic disease (81.9%) and used at least one medication (79.2%). Female participants (p=0.01), those with five or more systemic diseases (p<0.01), and hypertension (p=0.04) had reduced salivary flow. Participants with systemic diseases (p=0.02), taking any medication (p=0.04), in a polypharmacy regimen, and presenting hypertension (p=0.02) had more acidic salivary pH. Participants with diabetes had average salivary buffering capacity (p=0.02). In the adjusted multiple regression models, no explanatory variable was significantly associated with the salivary outcomes. Conclusion: Systemic alterations and medication use appear to be related to salivary changes in older adults. Integrative assessment of older adults is fundamental to identifying and controlling the factors that may modify their salivary characteristics. Objective flow pH aged Methods crosssectional cross sectional 7 6 Horizonte Brazil age sex Descriptive bivariate p<0.05. p005 p p<0.05 . 0 05 (p<0.05) Results 81.9% 819 81 9 (81.9% 79.2%. 792 79.2% 79 2 (79.2%) p=0.01, p001 p=0.01 , 01 (p=0.01) p<0.01, p<0.01 (p<0.01) p=0.04 p004 04 (p=0.04 p=0.02, p002 p=0.02 02 p=0.04, regimen (p=0.02 p=0.02. models outcomes Conclusion characteristics p00 p<0.0 (p<0.05 81.9 8 (81.9 79.2 (79.2% p=0.0 (p=0.01 (p<0.01 (p=0.0 p0 p<0. (p<0.0 81. (81. 79. (79.2 p=0. (p=0. p<0 (p<0. (81 (79. p=0 (p=0 p< (p<0 (8 (79 p= (p= (p< ( (7 (p

Aim To evaluate the prevalence of untreated caries and its association with biological, individual, and environmental variables in independently-living elderly people. Methods This cross-sectional study included 72 elderly (≥60 years) patients of a university dental clinic in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Sociodemographic data, systemic diseases, medications, and free sugar intake were collected. Visible plaque, Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT), and Decayed and Filled Root (DFR) indexes were assessed through clinical examination. Unstimulated saliva was collected to determine salivary flow, pH, and buffering capacity. Descriptive analysis and multilevel logistic regression analysis were performed following a dental caries theoretical model ( p <0.05, 95% CI). Results The mean DMFT and DFR were 24.44 (SD=4.59) and 3.21 (SD=2.93), respectively. The prevalence of untreated caries was 61.11%. In the adjusted multilevel regression model involving 1639 teeth, untreated dental caries was significantly associated with the presence of biofilm (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.24–2.74), salivary buffering capacity (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.99) and per capita income (OR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.004–0.74). Conclusion The experience of dental caries was widespread among independently-living elderly patients, and its variability was best explained by the presence of biofilm, reduced salivary buffering capacity, and low per capita income. A comprehensive assessment is needed of the biological, individual, and environmental factors related to the presence of dental caries in independently-living elderly people. biological individual independentlyliving independently living people crosssectional cross sectional 7 ≥60 60 (≥6 years Horizonte Brazil data diseases medications plaque Missing DMFT, , (DMFT) (DFR examination flow pH 005 0 05 <0.05 95 CI. CI . CI) 2444 24 44 24.4 SD=4.59 SD459 SD 4 59 (SD=4.59 321 3 21 3.2 SD=2.93, SD293 SD=2.93 2 93 (SD=2.93) respectively 6111 61 11 61.11% 163 teeth OR 1.84 184 1 84 1.24–2.74, 124274 1.24–2.74 74 1.24–2.74) 0.87 087 87 0.77–0.99 077099 77 99 0.06 006 06 0.004–0.74. 0004074 0.004–0.74 004 0.004–0.74) ≥6 6 (≥ (DMFT 00 <0.0 9 244 24. SD=4.5 SD45 5 (SD=4.5 32 3. SD29 SD=2.9 (SD=2.93 611 61.11 16 1.8 18 8 12427 1.24–2.7 0.8 08 0.77–0.9 07709 0.0 000407 0.004–0.7 ≥ <0. SD=4. SD4 (SD=4. SD2 SD=2. (SD=2.9 61.1 1. 1242 1.24–2. 0. 0.77–0. 0770 00040 0.004–0. <0 SD=4 (SD=4 SD=2 (SD=2. 61. 124 1.24–2 0.77–0 077 0004 0.004–0 < SD= (SD= (SD=2 12 1.24– 0.77– 07 000 0.004– (SD 1.24 0.77 0.004 1.2 0.7 0.00