Abstract
Introduction. Tobacco smoking exacerbates the rate of periodontal disease progression. This present study aims at estimating the levels of salivary alkaline phosphatase in smokers and non-smokers with chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods. 30 participants with chronic periodontitis, 15 in each group of smokers and control, respectively, were allocated. Various clinical parameters, like Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), Mean Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) and Mean Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) were ascertained. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in saliva was determined spectro-photometrically. Results and discussion. The mean scores of GI, PPD were found to be significantly high in the non-smoker group, while the mean scores of PI, CAL and ALP were significantly higher in the smoker group. In both groups, a significant reduction in all parameters' mean scores was observed at follow-up, compared to the baseline. Conclusions. Salivary ALP enzyme levels can be utilized as a potent diagnostic biomarker in predicting the inflammatory status of the periodontium.