Salivary Biomarkers and their Relationship with Periodontal Clinical Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study

Traditionally, periodontal clinical parameters are used to diagnose and design standardized treatment plans. The scientific literature has not widely reported the inclusion of salivary biomarkers in this diagnostic and therapeutic process.

To analyze the correlation between salivary biomarkers and periodontal clinical parameters of a group of patients undergoing the periodontal maintenance phase in a private dental office located in the southwest of Colombia.

A cross-sectional study was carried out. A sample of 92 patients undergoing the periodontal maintenance phase was analyzed. Conventional periodontal parameters were determined, and salivary biomarkers were measured by chromatography (cariogenic bacteria, acidity, buffering capacity, blood, and erythrocytes). To determine its correlation, a bivariate statistical analysis was developed.

According to Spearman's correlation matrix, among the periodontal clinical parameters, there were statistically significant correlations between the extension and severity of the complete and proximal attachment loss (r=0.93) and between the bleeding on probing (BOP) and the plaque index (PI) (r= 0.37). Within the salivary biomarkers, a statistically significant correlation was found between acidity and the buffering capacity of saliva (r= -0.54); between buffering capacity and proteins (r=0.36); between blood and erythrocytes (r=0.42); between blood and proteins (r=0.58), and between erythrocytes and proteins (r=0.48). Finally, a statistically significant correlation between periodontal parameters and salivary biomarkers was observed between teeth lost due to periodontal disease and acidity (r=0.26) and between teeth lost and buffer capacity (r=0.30).

Periodontal parameters and salivary biomarkers correlate with variables of the same group to which they belong. Still, only the variable teeth lost due to periodontal disease correlates with acidity and buffer capacity. The findings suggest that both periodontal parameters and salivary biomarkers should be evaluated throughout the periodontal process. It is possible that both parameters could express different moments of the pathophysiology of the disease.