[The Chemical Element Content of Mixed Unstimulated Saliva in Periodontal Diseases]

The levels of 21 chemical elements (N, Na, Mg, P, Cl, K, Ca, Sr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sc, Ag, Sb, Hg) were measured in mixed unstimulated saliva of 50 patients with periodontal diseases (29 women and 21 men) aged 20 to 49 without concomitant diseases, five of these with gingivitis and the rest with generalized periodontitis of medium severity (27 cases) and grave (n = 18). A control group consisted of 52 healthy subjects with intact periodontium and teeth. A complex of instrumental methods has been developed and used in this study including neutron activation analysis (NAA) in two modifications and roentgen-fluorescent analysis. Changes in salivary levels of chemical elements were detected in the patients, these changes augmenting with severity of periodontal tissue involvement. In grave condition the concentrations of the major electrolytes were increased by 2.3 to 6.6 times on an average, of nitrogen twofold, of scandium, manganese, and chromium by 6.8-8.8 times, and of iron, cobalt, copper, selenium, bromine, silver, and mercury by 1.6-1.9 times; zinc level in mixed salivary protein reduced as the disease augmented in severity and in a grave form was only 62% of its normal content (p < 0.01). Salivary oversaturation with ions including Ca2+ which are conductive to salivary glycoprotein sedimentation and eventually to formation of a nutrient medium for pathogenic bacteria and zinc deficit indirectly indicating a reduced level of immunity status of the body are additional factors responsible for increased rate of dental deposit formation in periodontal diseases.