Saliva parameters and their diagnostic significance

The saliva circulating in the mouth at any given time is termed as whole saliva and it comprises of a mixture of secretions from the major and minor salivary glands and traces from the gingival crevicular fluid. Like a mirror of the body’s health it contains proteins, hormones, antibodies and other molecules that are frequently measured in standard blood tests to monitor health and disease. Purpose:- In the present study we evaluated alterations of physical properties like ph, flow rate, buffering cpapcity and biochemical properties like salivary total protein, albumin, sIgA and calcium in periodontal disease in different age groups, analysed their interdependence and thereby assessed the probable role of various salivary parameters as a diagnostic aid in the detection of alterations in oral tissue integrity. Materials and Methods: - 60 cases and controls were taken for the study and three physical and four biochemical parameters were evaluated in all of them for each age group of 7 to 18 yrs., 18 to 36 yrs. and 40 to 60 yrs. T-test and Pearson test were used to analyze the data. Results:-Periodontitis patients showed significant change in salivary albumin and some change in buffer capacity with significant intergroup alterations of pH and calcium levels. Certain parametric changes were correlative also. Conclusion:- Changes in physical and some biochemical properties like calcium and sIgA in periodontitis cases were interrelated and an indirect effect of periodontitis. However, changes in albumin and therefore total proteins were to a greater extent a direct effect of periodontal inflammation.