Assessment of Salivary Malondialdehyde and Superoxide Dismutase Levels in Completely Edentulous Patients: An In Vivo Study

Introduction Residual ridge resorption (RRR) is a chronic inflammatory process; the free radicals formed may lead to tissue damage in the form of bone resorption mediating through many pathways and processes. We aimed to study the correlation between levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and residual ridge resorptive status levels in completely edentulous patients. Methods This study included 45 patients aged 40-65 yrs who were completely edentulous. The mean levels of MDA and SOD were evaluated and correlated with different classes of bone resorption, period of edentulism, the effect of denture wearing, age and gender. Results The mean value of MDA levels in completely edentulous patients was 2.6 ± 1.23 and that for SOD was 1.8 ± 0.47. There was no statistically significant difference in MDA levels whereas SOD levels showed statistical significance between all four classes (p<0.05). MDA levels showed statistically significantly higher levels in patients with an edentulism period of one year or less and non-denture wearers. There was no statistically significant difference in MDA and SOD levels in relation to age and gender. Conclusion Within the limitations of the study, there may be higher antioxidant activity in patients with more resorption. The present study correlates with other studies on RRR done using radiographs and other clinical parameters implicating that MDA and SOD may be used as biomarkers of RRR.