CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

This work presents a study of elemental composition (major, minor and trace elements) of oral fluids such as saliva andgingival crevice fluid, and their relation with smoking. Spectrochemical analyses were accomplished by the total reflectionX-ray fluorescence (TXRF) method using synchrotron radiation. Smoking habit is a well-known factor of risk that can triggerthe development of periodontal diseases. The presence of certain elements and their correlation with smoking could be usedto predict the development of oral affections, i.e. gingivitis. Two set of patients, smokers and non-smokers, were selectedaccording to certain criteria to analyze saliva and gingival crevice fluid. The elemental concentrations were measured, andthe differences between their mean values of both groups were determined. The results reveal significant differences inthe elemental concentrations of saliva. On the other hand, the mean values of elemental concentrations in gingival crevicefluid show fewer differences between both groups. The most significant differences in concentration between smokers andnon-smokers were found in saliva samples for S, K and Ca. In addition, a significant difference in the concentration of Cl ingingival crevice fluid was observed between both groups. Copyrightc 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.