Salivary MG1 and MG2 in Removable Prosthodontic Treatment

Saliva serves as the intermediate layer between oral removable prostheses and oral hard and soft tissue where it is a determinant factor in the success of denture treatment. However, little is known about how specific salivary components are affected by denture wearing or how introduction of a denture into oral cavity will impact the existing bio-equilibrium in saliva. Objectives: To study changes in the concentrations of the high molecular weight mucin MG1 and low molecular weight mucin MG2 following denture wearing. Methods: Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 16 subjects receiving complete or partial dentures for the first time. Collections occurred one week before and one week, one month and three months after denture delivery. Capture ELISA was used to measure MG1 and MG2 concentration in triplicate assays. In addition, total protein concentration was also determined using a standard BCA assay. Concentrations at each time point were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The concentration of MG1 appeared to decrease following denture wearing while the concentration of MG2 appeared to increase with time. Interestingly, total protein concentration also decreased over time following denture wearing. While repeated measures ANOVA did not show significant differences in MG1, MG2 or total protein concentration over time, clear trends were evident. Conclusions: Denture wearing resulted in changes in MG1 and MG2 concentrations in a seemingly opposite manner. This may be due to the complexity of nervous system control of salivary secretion. Since MG2 has been shown to have anti-fungal activity in vitro, increased MG2 levels following denture wearing may have clinical importance. Supported in part by NIH DE11691, DE14080 and K24DE018211.