Quantification and comparison of salivary neutrophils in periodontal health and disease.

Background: Neutrophils continuously migrate into the oral cavity from various sources like gingival crevicular fluid and saliva both in health and in inflammation. The migration of the neutrophils into the various tissues and into the oral cavity occurs when the host microbial interplay tips the balance favoring the initiation of the inflammatory and immune reactions which depending on the amount of the microbial load results in the development of acute and chronic infections in the susceptible host. Aim: The present study was designed to quantify and compare the oral salivary neutrophil levels in patients with gingivitis and chronic and aggressive periodontitis as well as in healthy controls, before and after scaling and root planing (SRP) and to compare the difference within the selected study groups. Materials and Methods: Forty subjects were classified into four groups, that is, healthy controls, gingivitis, and chronic and aggressive periodontitis. Oral rinse samples were collected using Hank's balanced salt solution from each patient before and after phase I periodontal therapy. Cells in the rinse samples were stained with Acridine orange, and neutrophil counts were carried out using a fluorescence microscope and a hemocytometer. Results: Baseline oral salivary neutrophil levels were maximum in the chronic periodontitis group followed by the aggressive group and then the gingivitis group. Oral salivary neutrophil levels also positively correlated to probing pocket depth, plaque index, calculus index, and gingival index in all four study groups. Maximum reduction in the oral salivary neutrophil levels after phase I periodontal therapy was seen in the gingivitis group. Conclusion: From our study, we conclude that the oral salivary neutrophil levels decreased significantly after SRP. Estimation of changes in the oral salivary neutrophil levels has the potential to aid in monitoring treatment outcomes. Thus, it suggests that it could be used as a simple, noninvasive laboratory technique to monitor the periodontal status and disease progression.

Ethnic Disparities in Oral Health Related Quality of Life among Adults in London, England.

OBJECTIVE: To explore ethnic disparities in oral health related quality of life (OHQoL) among adults, and the role that socioeconomic factors play in that association. RESEARCH DESIGN: Data from 705 adults from a socially deprived, ethnically diverse metropolitan area of London (England) were analysed for this study. Ethnicity was self-assigned based on the 2001 UK Census categories. OHQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), which provides information on the prevalence, extent and intensity of oral impacts on quality of life in the previous 12 months. Ethnic disparities were assessed in logistic regression models for prevalence of oral impacts and negative binomial regression models for extent and intensity of oral impacts. RESULTS: The prevalence of oral impacts was 12.7% (95% CI: 10.2-15.1) and the mean OHIP-14 extent and severity scores were 0.27 (95% CI: 0.20-0.34) and 4.19 (95% CI: 3.74-4.64), respectively. Black adults showed greater and Asian adults lower prevalence, extent and severity of oral impacts than White adults. However, significant differences were only found for the extent of oral impacts; Black adults reporting more and Asian adults fewer OHIP-14 items affected than their White counterparts. After adjustments for socioeconomic factors, Asian adults had significantly fewer OHIP-14 items affected than White adults (rate ratio: 0.28; 95%CI: 0.08-0.94). CONCLUSION: This study found disparities in OHQoL between the three main ethnic groups in South East London. Asian adults had better and Black adults had similar OHQoL than White adults after accounting for demographic and social factors.