Abstract
BACKGROUND: To determine whether saliva is a good means of evaluating concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers, analyzing the correlation between concentrations in saliva and in follicular tissue, and to compare biomarker concentrations in patients with one asymptomatic mandibular impacted third molar (MITM) (before extraction) with a healthy control, and to determine how biomarkers are modified by extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 80 patients with one asymptomatic MITM and 80 healthy controls were included. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects (before extraction in the study group) to evaluate Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Follicular tissues were obtained during surgery to measure biomarkers. One month after extraction, saliva samples were collected to assess changes of oxidative stress. RESULTS: Salivary MPO and MDA showed positive correlation with concentrations in follicular tissue (MPO: correlation coefficient=0.72, p=0.025; MDA: =0.92, p=0.001). Patients with asymptomatic MITMs showed higher salivary concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers than healthy control subjects, with statistical significance for both MPO (p<0.001) and MDA (p<0.001). One month after extraction, salivary biomarkers decreased significantly in the study group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Salivary MPO and MDA are higher among patients with one asymptomatic MITM, but these levels decrease significantly one month after surgical extraction. The large decrease in oxidative stress biomarkers could justify third molar extraction despite the absence of symptoms.