Proinflammatory factors in saliva as possible markers for periodontal disease.

Studies have indicated that host inflammatory proteins, enzymes and indicators of bone metabolism present in saliva differ in different types of periodontal disease. However, the number of markers analyzed was limited and the effect of edentulousness was not examined. We measured the concentration of host inflammatory proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), C3 and C4 complement components, alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha-2M) and tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) in unstimulated saliva of 14 periodontally healthy (PH), 9 edentulous persons (EP), 10 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 18 with aggressive periodontitis (AgP). TNF was below the level of detection in all samples except one. Edentulous persons and patients with CP had significantly reduced concentrations of CRP, C3 and alpha-2M. Edentulous persons and AgP patients had lower C4 concentrations. We can conclude that edentulous persons and CP patients have reduced salivary concentrations of host inflammatory proteins. These findings suggest that a reduction in host responsiveness might play a role in the pathogenesis of CP.

The width of clinically-defined keratinized gingiva in the mixed dentition.

Some authors have noticed a clear decrease of the width of keratinized gingiva when they compared the width over deciduous and newly erupted permanent teeth. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the width of keratinized gingiva over permanent and deciduous teeth present in 6 to 11-year old children in an urban environment. The greatest width of keratinized gingiva was found over deciduous canines and permanent incisors. When comparing the width of keratinized gingiva over deciduous canines and molars and permanent first incisors and first molars, statistically significant differences were found only between 6- and 11-year-old groups. The findings do not seem to support previously published data, but do suggest that periodontal mucogingival surgery is not needed before the patient reaches the adult age, since there is a tendency of an increase of the width of keratinized gingiva.