title: Calcium and other salivary factors in periodontitis-affected subjects prior to treatment.
abstract: Salivary calcium was shown to be higher in treated periodontitis-affected subjects (P+) than in periodontitis-free patients (P-). Here the aim was to study whether differences in calcium or other salivary factors exist prior to treatment. The test group consisted of 20 (15 men, 5 women) periodontitis-affected subjects and the control group 15 subjects (10 men, 5 women) free from periodontitis. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected to determine the flow-rate, calcium and phosphate concentrations, pH, buffering capacity, numbers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts. The results showed a higher calcium concentration (p < 0.05) in the P+ group (mean: 1.68 mmol/l; SE: 0.06 in men and mean: 1.49 mmol/l; SE: 0.10 in women) than in the P-group (mean: 1.48 mmol/l; SE: 0.09 in men and mean: 1.18 mmol/l; SE: 0.10 in women). The P+ group had more intact teeth (mean +/- SE: 9.9 +/- 0.8 in men and 11.2 +/- 2.0 in women) than the P-group (mean +/- SE: 8.3 +/- 0.7 in men and 8.2 +/- 2.4 in women). The present findings may indicate that an elevated level of salivary Ca is characteristic of P+ patients both before and after periodontal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sewón
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sainio
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Seppä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium