Abstract
BACKGROUND: The search for an ideal biomarker which can determine the current disease status that predicts the sites and individuals with increased susceptibility to periodontal disease has been going on since a long time. One such group of molecules which have been investigated recently are the trefoil factors, and the present study aims to determine the role of salivary trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) in periodontitis and gingivitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of fifty participants, of which 25 were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe periodontitis and 25 with chronic gingivitis were included in the study. The routine periodontal parameters were recorded at baseline and at 6 weeks which included plaque index, gingival index, bleeding index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. The saliva samples were collected from both the groups at baseline and 6 weeks after nonsurgical periodontal therapy and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to estimate the concentration of trefoil factor 3. RESULTS: All the periodontal parameters improved at 6-week reevaluation in both the groups. There was a significant change in the TFF3 levels in the periodontitis group from baseline to 6 weeks, and the concentrations were found to be higher following nonsurgical therapy, whereas the quantum of change in the gingivitis group was negligible. The levels of TFF3 remained unchanged in those periodontitis participants who required surgical intervention at the 6(th)-week reevaluation. CONCLUSION: The estimation of TFF3 levels may aid in decision-making in the treatment strategy of patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis.