Research Information System
ORAL DISEASES, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential relationship between local salivary coating of mucosal surfaces, clinical periodontal status, hyposalivation, and local inflammatory response with a specific reference for MUC4 and TNF-alpha levels.Materials and MethodsBased on their salivary flow rates, 24 hyposalivators and 26 normosalivators were recruited. Mucosal wetness (MW) and mucosal surface pH values were determined. Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained. Mucin 4 (MUC4) and TNF-alpha levels in local and whole salivary and GCF samples were determined with ELISA kits.ResultsGI and BoP were significantly higher in the hyposalivation group, while MW and mucosal pH values were significantly lower in hyposalivators, except for the labial surface. MUC4 and TNF-alpha levels showed significant differences among the groups. In the anterior region, GCF TNF-alpha concentration was high in hyposalivation patients; in the molar region, GCF MUC4 was significantly higher in normosalivators.ConclusionsBased on the differences which MW presented at local sites, MW may be utilized as a possible practical tool to reveal the local salivary characteristics in various clinical periodontal conditions based on the presence/extent of local inflammatory response, which may be important when the site-specific nature of periodontal diseases is concerned.