Associations of chairside salivary aMMP-8 findings with periodontal parameters, potentially periodontal pathogenic bacteria and selected blood parameters in systemically healthy adults.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between salivary active matrix-metalloproteinase 8 (aMMP-8) and periodontitis severity, potentially periodontal pathogenic bacteria as well as blood parameters in generally healthy participants. Therefore, 188 participants with a mean age of 48.9 ± 8 years were examined. The periodontitis severity was assessed based on periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment loss. Both, aMMP-8 and microbiological analysis were performed using a validated, commercially available test system. Blood values were utilized from regular differential blood count. The aMMP-8 findings were associated with the periodontitis severity (P < 0.01), as well as with the prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, Parvimonas micra, Camphylobacter rectus and Eubacterium nodatum (Pi < 0.05). No associations between aMMP-8 and the examined blood parameters were found (Pi > 0.05). In conclusion, salivary aMMP-8 findings seem to reflect periodontal disease severity as a result of an immunoreaction, especially against bacteria with high periodontal pathogenic potential.