High salivary calcium level associated with periodontal disease in Indian subjects--a pilot study

To evaluate the association of salivary calcium level with periodontal status in a case-control study model.

Fifty adult non-smoking subjects recruited from an Indian dental educational institution were categorised into case and control groups on the basis of a full-mouth periodontal examination. The case group was comprised of 25 subjects diagnosed with chronic generalised periodontitis and the control group included 25 periodontally healthy individuals. Basic demographic data was obtained and 3 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected. Salivary calcium levels were assayed by the ion selective electrode method.

The mean age for cases (46.6 ± 6.9 years) was significantly higher than that for controls (42.4 ± 6.3 years). The mean number of teeth for the case group (28 ± 3) was significantly lower than that for the control group (31 ± 1). The mean salivary calcium level in the case group (2.11 ± 0.24 mmol/L) was significantly higher than in the control group (1.86 ± 0.25 mmol/L) when ANCOVA for age adjustment was applied.

Periodontal disease is associated with higher salivary calcium levels than that in periodontal health, indicating that the calcium level of saliva could possibly be a risk factor for development of periodontal diseases.