Comparison of salivary nitric oxide levels among smokers and non-smokers in chronic periodontitis-A biochemical study Sundar N Mani1, Julius A2, Valiathan Mohan3, Krishnaraj S4, Bhuvaneshwari J5, Hemalatha V.T6, Prasanth Krishna7 1PhD Scholar, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 2Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Sree Balaji Dental College And Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education And Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 3Professor, Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College And Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education And Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 4Lecturer in Periodontics, Division of Periodontics, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 5Reader, Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 6PhD Scholar, Reader, Department of Oral Medicine &Radiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 7Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Online published on 9 January, 2019. Abstract Background and Objective Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous, colorless, highly reactive, shortlived free radical plays a pivotal role in the regulation of various physiological and pathological mechanisms in the body. The pathogenesis of periodontal diseases may be affected by alterations of the inflammatory response by smoke. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of salivary NO among both the smokers and nonsmokers having chronic periodontitis and also to compare them with periodontally healthy controls. Method Sixty subjects who were in the age group of 30–55 years, who participated in this study participated and were divided into three groups: group I, which includes 20 healthy nonsmoking subjects; group II, 20 subjects who are Non-smokers with Chronic periodontitis; Group III 20 subjects who are smokers with Chronic periodontitis. The biochemical estimation of NO in the collected saliva was performed using the Griess colorimetric reaction. Statistical Analysis and Results The statistical comparisons were done under the Griess Reaction. There were statistically significant salivary levels of NO in the groups of periodontitis (group II and III) as compared to those in the healthy controls (group I). The salivary nitric oxide levels are statistically significant among smokers than non-smokers in chronic periodontitis patients. Conclusion NO play an important complex role in the immuno-inflammatory process and in the remodeling and maintenance of osseous structures. As smoking increases the risk of periodontitis, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking among periodontitis patients, that is, the NO levels in these patients. Top Keywords Chronic periodontitis, Nitric oxide, Smoking. Top |