Background:

the destruction or loss of the first permanent molars due to caries has a significant impact on maxillofacial development and growth. A detailed analysis of all the factors concerning the origin and resistance to dental caries is essential; saliva is one of the least studied.

Objective:

to identify the salivary profile in nine-year-old schoolchildren with dental caries of the first permanent molar.

Methods:

a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, a non probabilistic sample of 45 fourth-grade students was selected from the Enrique José Varona school, during the period November 2019 to February 2020. Flow, pH and salivary consistency were determined.

Results:

there was supremacy in the studied children who presented adequate salivary flow and salivary consistency. The neutral pH was the predominant one.

Conclusions:

the results obtained in the salivary profile lead to estimate the multifactorial character of dental caries, without underestimating the influence of saliva.