Evaluation of Salivary Parameters and Oral Health Status in Periodontally Healthy Subjects and Chronic Periodontitis Subjects

Periodontal disease is a chronic disease of the oral cavity that consists of a group of inflammatory disorders affecting the supporting structures of the dentition. Saliva can be used to predict the early onset of periodontitis. Several investigations have been carried out to evaluate the salivary chemical compounds that lead to the destruction and/or protection of periodontal tissues. The present study aimed to assess and compare salivary parameters and oral health status in periodontally healthy and chronic generalised periodontitis patients. This is an in vivo study designed to compare salivary parameters (albumin, urea, total proteins, amylase, glucose and pH) of unstimulated saliva and oral health status of periodontally healthy subjects (n = 65) and chronic generalised periodontitis subjects (n = 65). Human whole unstimulated saliva was collected by spitting method with the subject seated in an upright position after refraining from oral intake for 2 h before saliva collection. Approximately 5 mL of saliva was collected and stored in graduated saliva-collecting vials and refrigerated at 4°C for 1 h. The samples were centrifuged at 2800 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was separated from the substrate and stored at 20°C. Next, the sample was defrosted at room temperature and centrifuged at 3000 rpm. The supernatant was separated again to determine the concentrations of glucose, amylase, urea, total protein and albumin using the respective kits and analysed using an automated analyser. Salivary pH was estimated electrometrically with the help of a pH meter. A significant association was found between salivary parameters (amylase and albumin total proteins) and clinical parameters (plaque index [PI], gingival index) [GI], probing depth and calculus index in generalised chronic periodontitis subjects when compared to periodontally healthy subjects. The increase in salivary parameters (amylase, total proteins and albumin) was statistically significant except for salivary glucose and urea (statistically non-significant) in generalised chronic periodontitis subjects compared to the healthy subjects. As the clinical parameters (probing depth, loss of attachment, PI, GI, calculus index and decay missing filled teeth) in periodontitis subjects increased, the salivary parameters also increased, suggesting a linear relationship between the generalised chronic periodontitis and salivary parameters (total proteins, albumin and amylase).