title: Study of orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and pyrophosphatase in saliva with reference to calculus formation and inhibition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A large amount of calculus may hamper the efficacy of daily oral hygiene and thereby accelerate plaque formation. Salivary concentrations of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate are important in preventing calculus formation. Activity of orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and pyrophosphatase was studied in whole saliva in calculus-forming groups and plaque-forming groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material for this study consists of 60 healthy individuals (age range: 15 to 30 years; mean age: 22 years). Depending on calculus index score, individuals were divided into four groups, each of 15 patients: Group 1, calculus index score 0 to 0.6; Group 2, calculus index score 0.7 to 1.8; Group 3, calculus index score 1.9 to 3; and Group 4, plaque group where index varied from 0 to 3. The saliva was collected and biochemically analyzed for concentration of orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and pyrophosphatase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of orthophosphate in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.2559, 1.3639, 1.7311, and 0.1868 mM, respectively. The mean values of pyrophosphate in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.3258, 0.1091, 0.0314, and 0.3860 mM, respectively. The mean values of pyrophosphatase in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 10.7937, 15.4249, 27.2900, and 7.5427 units/ml, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A holistic approach toward the control of periodontal disease should include antiplaque and anticalculus agents. The results are conclusive that the components orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and pyrophosphatase present in saliva have a very significant role to play in formation and inhibition of calculus. This study reinforces the idea of using pyrophosphate and newer bisphosphonates as potential anticalculus agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. periodontics_gdc@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: Esha
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Arjun Raju
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: P
authors.forename: M S Narayana
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faizuddin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000378:metabolism; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011756:Diphosphates; D010710:Phosphates; D011755:Pyrophosphatases