The levels of 21 chemical elements (N, Na, Mg, P, Cl, K, Ca, Sr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sc, Ag, Sb, Hg) were measured in mixed unstimulated saliva of 50 patients with
periodontal diseases (29 women and 21 men) aged 20 to 49 without concomitant diseases, five of these with
gingivitis and the rest with generalized
periodontitis of medium severity (27 cases) and grave (n = 18). A control group consisted of 52 healthy subjects with intact periodontium and teeth. A complex of instrumental methods has been developed and used in this study including neutron activation analysis (NAA) in two modifications and roentgen-fluorescent analysis. Changes in salivary levels of chemical elements were detected in the patients, these changes augmenting with severity of periodontal tissue involvement. In grave condition the concentrations of the major
electrolytes were increased by 2.3 to 6.6 times on an average, of
nitrogen twofold, of
scandium,
manganese, and
chromium by 6.8-8.8 times, and of
iron,
cobalt,
copper,
selenium,
bromine,
silver, and
mercury by 1.6-1.9 times;
zinc level in mixed
salivary protein reduced as the disease augmented in severity and in a grave form was only 62% of its normal content (p < 0.01). Salivary oversaturation with
ions including Ca2+ which are conductive to salivary
glycoprotein sedimentation and eventually to formation of a nutrient medium for pathogenic bacteria and
zinc deficit indirectly indicating a reduced level of immunity status of the body are additional factors responsible for increased rate of
dental deposit formation in
periodontal diseases.