Effect of Smoking on Saliva Composition and the Development of Dental Erosion

The aim of this study is to investigate whether smoking is associated with changes in salivary composition and/or predisposition to erosion. Healthy volunteers are observationally wearing an intraoral device with both bovine tooth specimens (enamel and dentin) and resin specimens twice for two hours each. Afterwards, specimens are eroded extraorally and calcium release into the acid is measured. Total protein concentration and protein composition of the salivary pellicles on the resin samples are measured. Additionally, salivary parameters (unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, total protein content and protein composition as well as concentration of inorganic calcium, phosphate, and fluoride) are measured.