Effect of Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy on the Serum and Salivary Levels of Selenium, Zinc, Copper and Iron in Patients with Periodontitis at a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have looked at the effect of periodontal therapy on the serum/saliva concentration of micronutrients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on the serum and saliva levels of selenium, zinc, copper and iron in patients with periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sixty participants were recruited for the study. Test group comprised 30 participants with periodontitis and the control group comprised 30 periodontally healthy participants. Periodontal parameters (clinical attachment loss and probing pocket depth) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) were assessed for both groups at baseline and after 3 months. Blood and saliva samples were also collected at baseline and after 3 months to determine the levels of selenium, zinc, copper and iron in them. The test group had scaling and root planing with oral hygiene instructions and motivation while the control group had only oral hygiene instructions and motivation at baseline. Inter-group and intra group differences were determined using the independent t-test and paired t-test respectively. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Fifty-one participants completed the study comprising 27 participants in the test group and 24 participants in the control group. The mean values of selenium and zinc increased from the baseline values. Copper and iron mean values however decreased from the baseline values.

CONCLUSION

The study showed an increase in the mean serum and salivary levels of zinc and selenium and a decrease in copper and iron following NSPT in patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis.