Estimation and comparison of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 and S100A8 levels in reverse smokers, smokers, and non-smokers with periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing periodontitis using traditional methods can reflect past tissue destruction and not indicate the active disease. This highlights the need for accurate and specific diagnostic methods that assess the current disease activity more accurately. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and association of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and S100A8 levels with periodontitis among reverse smokers, smokers, and nonsmokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen milliliters of saliva sample were collected from 100 participants, 25 each of reverse smokers with periodontitis (RS + P), smokers with periodontitis (S + P), nonsmokers with periodontitis (NS + P) and systemically and periodontally healthy individuals (HI). Probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss were measured and correlated with the levels of MMP-9 and S100A8, which were tested by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The levels of both biomarkers were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in reverse smokers with periodontitis than in other groups. Both MMP-9 and S100A8 had a sensitivity of 91.7% for detecting periodontitis, demonstrating equal sensitivity. The specificity was slightly higher for MMP-9 (41.7%) when compared to S100A8 (38.9%). These markers increased with the severity of periodontal disease; however, a significant (P = 0.001) increase was observed only with salivary S100A8. CONCLUSIONS: Within limitations, salivary MMP-9 and S100A8 may be possible biomarkers for smokers (especially reverse smokers) with periodontitis and have a good screening potential for periodontitis. However, more studies are essential to understand the prognostic value of salivary MMP-9 and S100A8 for periodontitis.