Background: Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections of the gingiva, bone and attachment fibers that support the teeth and hold them in the jaw. Lactoferrin is a multifunctional glycoprotein and it is the main component of neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes that activated during inflammatory processes such as Periodontal diseases Aims of the study: Determine the salivary levels of Lactoferrin and pH and their correlations with clinical periodontal parameters(Plaque Index , Gingival Index , Bleeding on Probing , Probing Pocket Depth , and Clinical Attachment Level ) and the correlation between Lactoferrin with potential of hydrogen ion (PH) ,flow rate and α-amylase of study groups that consisted of patients had gingivitis and patients had chronic periodontitis with different severities(mild ,moderate ,severe) and control group . Materials and Methods: Salivary Lactoferrin and pH levels were measured from 75 males, age ranged (30-45) years old, that divided into study groups (group of 45 chronic periodontitis patients with different severities which sub-grouped into (Mild=15, Moderate=15 and Severe=15), group of 15 patients with gingivitis) and control group comprised 15 subjects had clinically healthy periodontium. Results: The levels of salivary Lactoferrin in patients had severe chronic periodontitis were the highest followed by moderate chronic periodontitis then the mild chronic periodontitis then patients had gingivitis. Highly significant differences were demonstrated among the control, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis subgroups and between each pairs of chronic periodontitis subgroups. pH increased in gingivitis group and decreased in chronic periodontitis group with its different severities. Highly significant strong positive correlations between Lactoferrin with clinical periodontal parameters at all groups and subgroups. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that salivary Lactoferrin can help to monitor the progression of the periodontal disease.
