The Influence of Kidney Stones and Salivary Uric Acid on Dental Calculus Formation and Periodontal Status among Some Saudi Patients Aged 25 - 70 Years

Background: The formation of kidney stones is considered a complicated process. Consequently, there are many questions about the link between kidney stones formation and level of salivary uric acid and calculus formation on the teeth surfaces. Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between the level of salivary uric acid and kidney stones formation and their influence on dental calculus and periodontal status among Saudi patients aged 25 - 70 years. Materials and Methods: 120 Saudi male patients were examined (60 of Kidney stones patients and 60 patients of non-kidney stones patients) for clinical evaluation of plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), calculus index of oral hygiene (CI) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Moreover, lab assessment of uric acid level in the collected salivary samples was done. The findings were analyzed using of ANOVA test and Tukey’s test. Results: There were statistically significant differences in clinical parameters among kidney stones patients and non-kidney stones patients (p < 0.05), but these differences were highly statistically significant in the correlation between calculus index (CI), plaque index (PLI) and gingival index (GI) among kidney stone patients in group II, moreover, PLI and clinical attachment loss (CAL) among kidney stone patients in group III (p < 0.001). The statistical analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the level of salivary uric acid (mg/dl) in the comparison between kidney stones patients and non-kidney stones patients in group I and group III, whereas there were highly statistically significant in the comparison between kidney stones patients and non-kidney stones patients in group III. Conclusion: At the end of this study, we concluded that there was a relationship between dental calculus formation, kidney stones formation, and an increase in the level of salivary uric acid.

Starch grains from dental calculus reveal ancient plant foodstuffs at Chenqimogou site, Gansu Province

Chenqimogou site, located at the south bank of Tao River, is comprised of a large group of graves dated to ~4000 a BP. For its large scale, unique mortuary system, and abundant of typical artifacts, the site was named one of 'Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2008 in China'. Many intact human skeletons have been excavated from the graves. Three teeth from two adult skeletons excavated from graves M187 and M194 were examined. Forty-eight starch grains were retrieved from dental calculus of three teeth. Six of those starch grains could not be identified because of damage. The others were classified into seven groups. Most of them were from wheat (Triticum aestivum) and/or barley (Hordeum vulgare). Remains possibly from foxtail millet (Setaria italica), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), gingkgo (Ginkgo biloba), acorn (Quercus spp.), bean, roots or tubers were identified. Ancient starch grains from dental calculus indicate that human foodstuffs primarily sourced from wheat, buckwheat, and foxtail millet. Acorn, beans, tubers or roots were supplements. A variety of starch grains retrieved from dental calculus revealed that diverse crops were cultivated in the Chenqimogou site 4000 years ago, and both dry-land farming and gathering were engaged.