Measuring proteins in patients' saliva could be an easier way for dentists to track the progression of gum disease, according to a new study from Penn Dental Medicine researchers in Philadelphia.
Six notes:
1. Researchers monitored saliva and blood samples from more than 400 patients for up to a year and a half for the study.
2. The saliva samples were tested for 10 inflammation-related proteins, while the blood samples were tested for five.
3. The study showed that on average, patients with a moderate to severe progression of gum disease had substantial increases in nine inflammation-related signaling proteins in their saliva.
4. The protein levels were shown to subside after treatment, according to a Jan. 7 news release.
5. The levels of certain proteins in the blood samples did not differ significantly by degree of disease progression, although other proteins did decrease significantly after treatment.
6. The study's lead author, Flavia Teles, DDS, said in the news release that saliva test kits could be a more personalized tool that patients can use at home.