Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on salivary pH, flow rate, salivary protein and calcium concentration in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth. The host-microbial interaction in periodontitis leads to ulceration of sulcular epithelium which acts as a portal of entry for the bacteria to enter the connective tissue and thus into the systemic circulation. Elimination of causative agent through non-surgical periodontal therapy causes a reduction in inflammation and periodontal microbes. Therefore, it is of interest to examine the effect of scaling on salivary flow rate, pH, salivary protein and calcium concentration. A total 50 patients were selected and they were assessed at their first visit and on 2nd day after non-surgical therapy. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from patients at their first visit and flow rate was noted during collection of the sample. Salivary protein and calcium concentration, pH were estimated before and two days after non-surgical therapy. A positive correlation between the level of calcium and protein level reduction after therapy was seen.