Oral defensive mechanisms in normal subjects and in patients with periodontal diseases

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 48 cases of periodontal diseases, and 48 normal subjects as controls. Determination of IgA, C3c and fibronectin concentration in saliva samples from patients and controls was done by radial immunodiffusion. The role of buccal epithelial cells [BEC] as a defensive mechanism was determined by the inhibition of bacterial growth rate on Mueller Hinton agar plates. There was statistically significant increase in the concentration of IgA and C3c and nonsignificant increase in the concentration of fibronectin in saliva samples from patients with periodontal diseases compared to controls. Adherence of Strept. viridans to BEC was markedly increased in patients with periodontal diseases compared to controls and this was statistically significant. The antibacterial activity of BEC was markedly obvious in normal subjects compared to those with periodontal diseases and this result was statistically highly significant