Association of salivary pH in patients with dental caries and periodontal disease

Background: The aims of the study was to find out the prevalence of dental caries in healthy and periodontal disease and its association with salivary pH.Methods: A total of 80 healthy subjects reporting to the department of periodontology were selected. They were divided into four groups (clinically healthy gingival, chronic generalized gingivitis, chronic generalized periodontitis, and aggressive periodontitis) with 20 subjects in each. Periodontal parameters; decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and salivary pH were recorded. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected according to Navazesh method. The pH of saliva was immediately measrued using a single electrode digital pH meter.Results: Based on statistical test it was seen that caries prevalence and DMFT was found out to be least in aggressive periodontitis group, along with least mean pH value, as compared to the other 3 groups, p<0.05.Conclusions: The low prevalence of caries in aggressive periodontitis can be attributed to the low pH of saliva. Salivary pH plays a vital role in the formation of microbial film, which in turn has a significant role in the pathogenesis of both dental caries and periodontitis.

Serum and Saliva 25(OH)D Levels in Relation to Dental Caries in Young Children

Objective: Several studies have reported that low levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) are associated with an increased risk of dental caries and that optimal levels may offer protection This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum and saliva 25(OH)D levels and caries among young children. Study design: A total of 120 healthy children were recruited; 93 with caries and 27 caries-free. Dental caries status was evaluated using decayed, missing and filled in primary teeth (dmft) index. Blood and unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected. Laboratory analysis was performed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, bivariate and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Results: There were no significant associations between serum and saliva 25(OH)D levels and caries status (P &gt; 0.05). Levels of 25(OH)D in serum were significantly higher than levels found in saliva (P &lt; 0.05), and a correlation between serum and saliva 25(OH)D levels was observed (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: The association between serum and saliva 25(OH)D and dental caries in young children was inconclusive. However, a positive and significant correlation was observed between serum and saliva 25(OH)D levels. Further studies are warranted to investigate the definite relation between 25(OH)D levels and dental caries and using saliva 25(OH)D as a non-invasive alternative method over blood samples.

A Comparative Quantitative Assessment of Salivary Iga and Alpha Amylase in Caries Free and Caries Active Children

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the salivary IgA (immunoglobulin A) and alpha amylase levels in the unstimulated whole saliva samples of caries-free and caries-active children and correlate it with the caries status and age. Study design: The salivary IgA and amylase was investigated in 100 children in the range of 8–12 years divided in two groups, control group (DMFT and/or deft = 0) and study group (DMFT/deft score ≥5). The salivary IgA was measured using kit based on two-site sandwich enzyme immunoassay principle and amylase was estimated using the vitro amyl slides. Results :The mean salivary IgA and amylase levels in the saliva of the children in the control group was found to be significantly increased (p=.001 and p=.014 respectively) whereas the relationship between salivary IgA and amylase levels in the saliva of the children was found to be insignificant with the age (p=.392 and p=.306 respectively). Conclusions: The results indicated that salivary IgA and amylase levels in saliva increased significantly in caries free children and the level of salivary IgA and alpha amylase has no significant relation with the age of the children.

Investigation of Salivary RANKL and OPG Levels in Periodontitis Patients at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Background This study was aimed to determine the levels of salivary receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its association with periodontal status among periodontitis patients. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional study was designed and performed at the Dental Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). Random sampling was employed to identify 88 participants into three groups: 30 mild periodontitis, 30 moderate to severe periodontitis, and 28 healthy (nonperiodontitis) patients. Periodontal parameters: periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque score (PS), and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were recorded. In total, 4 mL of unstimulated whole saliva was collected to determine the levels of salivary RANKL and OPG proteins by using ELISA technique. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 24.0. Results Mean values for PPD (5.3 ± 0.5) and CAL (5.6 ± 0.5) were observed higher for moderate to severe periodontitis as compared with values (4.4 ± 0.2) (4.5 ± 0.2) in mild periodontitis patients. The mean salivary RANKL and OPG was 0.23 ± 0.07 ng/mL and 1.78 ± 0.70 ng/mL respectively in moderate to severe periodontitis. Only salivary RANKL levels were significantly and positively correlated with all the clinical periodontal parameters. Conclusion The levels of salivary RANKL were higher as opposed to lower OPG levels in periodontitis patients in contrast to healthy (nonperiodontitis) patients. RANKL levels were significantly associated with the periodontal parameters. Therefore, we can conclude that RANKL can potentially aid as an adjunctive diagnostic protein in evaluating periodontal disease.

The effects of removing dead bacteria by propidium monoazide on the profile of salivary microbiome

Background Oral microbiome played an important role in maintaining healthy state and might exhibit certain changes under circumstances of diseases. However, current microbiological research using sequencing techniques did not regard dead bacteria as a separate part, causing findings based on subsequent analyses on dynamic equilibrium and functional pathways of microbes somewhat questionable. Since treatment by propidium monoazide (PMA) was able to remove dead bacteria effectively, it would be worth studying how the sequencing results after PMA treatment differed from those focusing on the whole microbiota. Methods Unstimulated whole saliva samples were obtained from 18 healthy people from 3 age groups (children, adults, and the elderly). After removal of dead bacteria by propidium monoazide (PMA), changes in the profile of salivary microbiome were detected using 16S rRNA sequencing technology, and differences among age groups were compared subsequently. Results Dead bacteria accounted for nearly a half of the whole bacteria flora in saliva, while freezing had little effect on the proportion of deaths. After treatment with PMA, the numbers of OTUs reduced by 4.4–14.2%, while the Shannon diversity indices decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Only 35.2% of positive and 6.1% of negative correlations were found to be shared by the whole microbiota and that with dead bacteria removed. Differences in significantly changed OTUs and functional pathways among different age groups were also observed between the group of PMA and the control. Conclusions It was necessary to take the influence of living state of bacteria into account in analytic studies of salivary microbiome.

Detection of Salivary miRNAs That Predict Chronic Periodontitis Progression: A Cohort Study

The aim of this two-year cohort study was to investigate salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) that predict periodontitis progression. A total of 120 patients who underwent supportive periodontal therapy were recruited. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected at baseline. Two years later, 44 patients were followed up (median age, 67.1 years) and divided into two groups: progression group (n = 22), with one or more sites with clinical attachment level (CAL) progression (>3 mm compared with baseline) or tooth extraction due to periodontitis progression; and the control group (n = 22), which did not exhibit CAL progression. In the microarray analysis of salivary miRNAs, hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-miR-17-3p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-4724-3p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-28-5p, hsa-miR-320d, and hsa-miR-31-5p showed fold change values <0.5 or ≥2.0 in the progression group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, areas under the curves of hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were >0.7, indicating fair discrimination power. The expressions of salivary hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were associated with periodontitis progression in patients with chronic periodontitis. These salivary miRNAs may be new biomarkers for progression of periodontitis, and monitoring them may contribute to new diagnostics and precision medicine for periodontitis.

Cytokine/Chemokine/Growth Factor Profiles Contribute to Understanding the Pathogenesis of the Salivary Gland Dysfunction in Euthyroid Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Patients

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. It is suggested that, in addition to thyroid gland dysfunction, HT is responsible for impaired secretion from the salivary glands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of symptoms of salivary gland dysfunction. We also assessed the relationship between the levels of selected cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) and the rate of UWS secretion and symptoms of xerostomia in HT patients. The study group consisted of 25 female patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease in its spontaneous euthyroid state who had never received hormonal treatment. In more than half of the examined patients, we observed the level of UWS secretion below 0.2 mL/min, indicating impaired secretory function of the salivary glands. Moreover, we demonstrated that the clinical symptoms of salivary gland dysfunction worsen with disease duration. Nevertheless, the inflammatory changes occurring in these glands are independent of general inflammation in the course of HT. Our results clearly indicate an abnormal profile of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the UWS of HT euthyroid women as well as the fact that concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1 as well as INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 may be potential biomarkers for salivary gland dysfunction in the course of HT. Furthermore, salivary IL-12 (p40) may be helpful in assessing the progression of autoimmunity-related inflammation in the course of HT. In conclusion, secretory dysfunction of the salivary glands is closely related to autoimmunity-related inflammation in the course of HT, which leads to objective and subjective symptoms of dry mouth.

Smell, taste and trigeminal disorders in a 65‐year‐old population

Background Smell, taste and trigeminal disorders likely have a substantial impact on human daily life. However, data regarding the prevalence of these disorders in Norway are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smell, taste, trigeminal disorders and associated factors in a 65-year-old population in Oslo, Norway. Methods A random sample of 223 individuals (123 men, 100 women) participated in the study. Medical history was obtained, and unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) and stimulated whole saliva (SWS) were collected to determine salivary secretion rates. Sniffin`n Sticks and Taste Strips (Burghart Messtechnik GmbH, Wedel, Germany) were used for quantitative testing of olfactory and gustatory function. In addition, the participants’ self-reported perceptions of smell and taste, and burning mouth sensation were investigated. Results The results showed that 34 % of the participants had reduced smell (28 % hyposmia and 6 % anosmia) and 28 % had reduced taste perception (21 % hypogeusia and 7 % ageusia). 13 % of the partcipants had a combination of smell and taste disorders. Dysgeusia was reported by 5 % and burning mouth sensation (syndrome) by 3 % of the participants. Hyposmia, hypogeusia and ageusia were significantly more prevalent among men. Significant associations were found between taste disorders and previous history of cerebral hemorrhage and heart attack, and between burning mouth sensation and gastrointestinal disorders. Disturbances in olfactory, gustatory and trigeminal function were significantly related to medication use. Ageusia and burning mouth sensation were significantly more prevalent among smokers. Except from higher prevalence of ageusia among participants with hyposalivation with respect to SWS, no significant associations were found between salivary secretion rate and chemosensory or trigeminal disorders in the present study. Conclusions The present study revealed that one-third of 65-year-old individuals had impaired smell and more than one-fourth had impaired taste function. The prevalence of dysgeusia and burning mouth sensation was very low. Reduced smell and taste perception were more common among men than women. Furthermore, some diseases and medications were associated with chemosensory and trigeminal disorders. Ageusia was associated with SWS hyposalivation.

Investigation of Changes in Saliva in Radiotherapy-Induced Head Neck Cancer Patients

The intact function of the salivary glands is of utmost importance for oral health. During radiotherapy in patients with head and neck tumors, the salivary glands can be damaged, causing the composition of saliva to change. This leads to xerostomia, which is a primary contributor to oral mucositis. Medications used for protective or palliative treatment often show poor efficacy as radiation-induced changes in the physico-chemical properties of saliva are not well understood. To improve treatment options, this study aimed to carefully examine unstimulated whole saliva of patients receiving radiation therapy and compare it with healthy unstimulated whole saliva. To this end, the pH, osmolality, electrical conductivity, buffer capacity, the whole protein and mucin concentrations, and the viscoelastic and adhesive properties were investigated. Moreover, hyaluronic acid was examined as a potential candidate for a saliva replacement fluid. The results showed that the pH of radiation-induced saliva shifted from neutral to acidic, the osmolality increased and the viscoelastic properties changed due to a disruption of the mucin network and a change in water secretion from the salivary glands. By adopting an aqueous 0.25% hyaluronic acid formulation regarding the lost properties, similar adhesion characteristics as in healthy, unstimulated saliva could be achieved.

Serum and Saliva Myelin Basic Protein as Multiple Sclerosis Biomarker

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered as motor and sensory function loss, which results from demyelination and following axonal lesion. As Myelin basic protein (MBP) is one of the key elements of the myelin cover, we examined the level of MBP in serum, stimulated and unstimulated saliva as a suitable biomarker for detecting of MS. Methods: A case–control study was performed in 29 healthy women and 32 definitive relapsing-remitting MS patients who were hospitalized in Imam Reza hospital, Tehran, Iran. MBP level was assayed in serum and stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva. Results: MBP was expressed at a lower level in serum and stimulated saliva of MS patients compared to control groups. The serum MBP level had a considerable correlation with its stimulated saliva level. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed significantly diagnostic abilities for MBP to discrimination MS patients with serum and stimulated saliva from controls. Conclusions: Serum and saliva level of MBP is lower in MS and it may be considered as a potential biomarker in Multiple sclerosis.