Comparison of Salivary Secretion, pH, and Buffer Capacity Between COVID-19 Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Child Patients Visiting Dental Clinics of University Hospitals in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of the COVID-19 Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children

Variables		Unvaccinated (n = 66)		Vaccinated (n = 66)		Total (n=132)
		n	%	n	%	n	%
Campus	Namuthajiya	13	68.4%	6	31.6%	19	14.4%
	Munasiyah	53	46.9%	60	53.1%	113	85.6%
	Total	66	50.0%	66	50.0%	132	100%
Gender	Female	31	50.0%	31	50.0%	62	47%
	Male	35	50.0%	35	50.0%	70	53%
	Total	66	50.0%	66	50.0%	132	100%
Nationality	Saudi	63	50.8%	61	49.2%	124	93.9%
	Non-Saudi	3	37.5%	5	62.5%	8	6.1%
	Total	66	50.0%	66	50.0%	132	100%

Table 2 Descriptive Statistics for Salivary Parameters of Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Subjects

Variables	Unvaccinated (n = 66)	Vaccinated (n = 66)	t	p
	Mean± SD	Mean± SD
Saliva Secretion (mL/min)	0.83±0.24	0.67±0.24	3.735	<0.001
Saliva pH	7.33±0.39	7.04±0.46	4.049	<0.001
Buffer capacity at 5 mmoL HCl titration	6.31±1.55	5.40±1.22	3.764	<0.001

Abbreviations: HCl, hydrochloric acid; mL/min, millilitre/minute; SD, standard deviation.

Table 3 Salivary Secretion, pH, and Buffer Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Gender

Variables	Females (N = 62)						Male (N=70)
	Unvaccinated (n = 31)		Vaccinated (n = 31)		t	p	Unvaccinated (n=35)		Vaccinated (n=35)		t	p
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD			Mean	SD	Mean	SD
Salivary secretion	0.87	0.23	0.71	0.25	2.627	0.011	0.80	0.25	0.64	0.23	2.670	0.009
Salivary pH	7.28	0.29	7.14	0.49	1.305	0.198	7.39	0.45	6.94	0.41	4.309	<0.001
Buffering capacity at 5 mmol HCl titration	6.19	1.52	5.34	1.25	2.404	0.019	6.42	1.60	5.45	1.21	2.875	0.005

Abbreviations: mmol, millimoles; HCl, hydrochloric acid; SD, standard deviation; mL/min, millilitre/minute.

Table 4 Buffer Capacity of Saliva in Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Subjects

Buffer	Unvaccinated		Vaccinated		Total	df	Chi-Square	p
	n	%	n	%	N
Low	8	33.3%	16	66.7%	24	2	15.160	0.001
Medium	9	28.1%	23	71.9%	32
High	49	64.5%	27	35.5%	76
Total	66	100%	66	100%	132

Abbreviation: df, degrees of freedom.