Comparative evaluation of Helicobacter pylori in the saliva of patients with periodontal disease and a healthy population by PCR test

Isolation of various microorganisms from pockets, dental plaque or saliva in periodontal patients is very important. Among the isolated microorganisms, Helicobacter pylori is usually present in the oral cavity, either in saliva or in dental plaque. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori and periodontal disease. In this case-control study in 2009-2010, 50 periodontal patients, as diagnosed by a periodontist, who referred to the Department of Periodontics in Isfahan Faculty of Dentistry, were included. The subjects had not received any treatment for their disease during the previous month. The subjects were asked to submit a sample of their saliva by spitting into a sterile test tube. The samples were sent to the laboratory in a sterile environment to be analyzed with PCR test, which is now the best test for the evaluation of intraoral microorganisms. The same procedure was repeated for another 50 healthy individuals as the control group. The results were analyzed by chi-square test using SPSS software. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in relation to the presence of H. pylori in the saliva (p value > 0.05). In addition, no significant differences were observed between H. pylori presence and gender and periodontal disease severity (p values > 0.05). Under the limitations of the present study no relationship was established between H. pylori and periodontal disease.