title: Comparison of salivary calcium level in smokers and non-smokers with chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, and healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare salivary calcium (Ca) level in smokers and non-smokers with chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  56 subjects were included in the study and were grouped as follows: 12 subjects who were periodontally healthy (Group I), 12 subjects having chronic periodontitis who were non-smokers (Group II), 12 non-smokers having aggressive periodontitis (Group III), 12 smokers with chronic periodontitis (Group IV), and 8 smokers with aggressive periodontitis (Group V). Clinical measurements and non-stimulated whole saliva samples were obtained and analyzed for Ca levels by ion-selective electrolyte analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When salivary Ca values were compared between the groups, they showed statistically significant values (P < 0.001) with the highest mean Ca level in Group IV and Group V, which include smokers with chronic periodontitis and smokers with aggressive periodontitis, respectively, than in other groups. Between groups II and III also, the mean salivary Ca level was statistically significant (P < 0.001) with higher mean salivary Ca in non-smokers having chronic periodontitis than in non-smokers having aggressive periodontitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that smokers having chronic periodontitis as well as smokers having aggressive periodontitis have higher salivary calcium levels. Also, patients with aggressive periodontitis were found to have lesser salivary calcium level than chronic periodontitis patients by ion-selective electrolyte analyzer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kambalyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Prabhuraj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kambalyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Shital
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hungund
keywords: Aggressive periodontitis; calcium; calculus; chronic periodontitis; saliva; smokers