Dental calculus formation rate: the role of salivary proteome and metaproteome

This study investigated the differences in saliva composition between individuals with rapid and slow dental calculus formation rates. A total of 26 patients were evaluated for their salivary electrochemical properties, and proteomic, metaproteomic, and elemental compositions. After dental cleaning and a six-month reassessment, patients were categorized into slow (57.7%) and rapid (42.3%) calculus formers. Results indicated that rapid formers had a more neutral zeta-potential, lower salivary calcium ion concentration, distinct protein profiles including 38 exclusive proteins, and pathways related to cell binding, inflammatory mediation, and neurodegenerative disorders. In contrast, slow formers showed an immune response enrichment and a different bacterial composition, with a predominance of Streptococci in rapid formers and Rothia in slow formers. The study concludes that rapid calculus formers' saliva significantly differs in several key compositions from slow formers.