Salivary content of patients with subjective symptoms resembling galvanic pain

Abstract

Analyses of whole and parotid saliva were performed in ten patients with subjective symptoms resembling galvanic pain and in their eight asymptomatic counterparts. Salivary flow rates, protein, IgA, lysozyme, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium phosphate, copper, and magnesium contents were measured. The concentrations of protein, sodium, chloride, and phosphate in the whole saliva of the patients with symptoms were significantly higher, but concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and IgA were lower than in the asymptomatic controls. In parotid saliva, too, protein, lysozyme, and calcium concentrations were significantly altered in patients with oral symptoms. The analysis of free amino acids serine, proline, glutamic acid + glutamine, and glycine in the whole saliva did not show any significant differences between the two groups studied. The results suggest the importance of salivary contents in the development of oral soreness. Such changes in the salivary constituents could modulate the amount and character of the salivary macromolecules absorbed onto the teeth. This could lead to passivation or activation of the surfaces in metallic restorations and consequently to the onset of the intraoral electric currents.