Salivary Markers in Periodontal Disorders

Completed

Conditions studied: Periodontal Disease, Staging, Salivary Markers, Diagnosis

In brief

The swelling of the gum, or periodontitis, is the leading cause for tooth loss, and currently affects up to 65 million adults only in the United States. One of the reasons for the widespread of periodontitis is because currently there are no definitive methods to detect the onset of gum disease. This lack of foresight impedes medical professionals to enact any preventive measures before the disease already manifests itself. We wish to expand our understanding towards the development of periodontitis by studying the expression and activity of salivary markers that have been associated with advanced stages of the disease, wherein the supporting tissues of tooth (periodontium) are already irreversibly destroyed. We hypothesize that a progressive shift in the expression of such salivary markers can indicate a change or evolution of periodontitis staging. In specific, we seek to establish a quantifiable relationship among levels of salivary proteases called MMPs, level of metal ions in different stages varying from health to periodontitis. The overall goal of this proposal is to enhance the predictability of periodontitis, as we are currently unable to diagnose the disease until the manifestation of its clinical signs and symptoms.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06576856

Run by

Midwestern University

People needed

106

Starts

2021-11-06

Expected to finish

2024-10-10

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-16

Who can join

Age: 30 and older, up to 99. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• (1) 40 years of age or older with a healthy medical history and not meeting any of the exclusion criteria;
• (2) requiring definitive periodontal treatment/routine care; and
• (3) retaining a minimum of 20 teeth and without active carious lesions

You may not qualify if…

• 1) with systemic illness affecting their immune system (i.e. diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc);
• (2) currently on chronic anti-inflammatory medications (i.e. steroids, TNFα-inhibitors, etc); and
• (3) previously underwent active periodontal therapy within the past 2 years;
• (4) who cannot read or speak English.

Where it is running

• Midwestern Univerity — Downers Grove, Illinois, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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