📌 POINTS TO PONDER

🔹Organulocytes are the living PMNs in saliva.

🔹Factors VIII, IX, X, plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA) and Hageman factor are the coagulation factors present in saliva.

🔹 The drugs that cause xerostomia are anticholinergics, antipsychotics, anti-Parkinsonian, antidepressants, anti-histamines and antihypertensives.

🔹The 1: 3 ratio is the normal ratio of B-lymphocytes to T-lymphocytes in GCF.

🔹 Various drugs excreted through GCF are tetracyclines, metronidazole, clindamycin, tinidazole and erythromycin.

📌 Defense mechanisms of oral cavity

📣 Defense mechanisms of oral cavity are due to:

🔸Saliva.

🔸Sulcular fluid.

🔸 Intact epithelial barrier: Junctional epithelium (JE).

🔸 Presence of normal beneficial flora.

🔸 Local antibody production.

🔸 Migrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and other leukocytes.

📌 Inflammatory mediators present in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)

📣 Inflammatory mediators present in GCF at diseased sites:

🔸 Prostaglandin E2

🔸Interleukin-1 (IL-1)

🔸Tumor necrosis factor

🔸Leukotriene B4

🔸Thromboxane B2

🔸T helper type 1: IL-2, interferon-γ

🔸T helper type 2 cytokines: IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13

🔸Chemokines: IL-8

🔸Adhesion molecules: Selectins and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule

🔸Enzymes: Neutrophil elastase, neutrophil aspartate transaminase, neutrophil collagenase matrix metalloproteinase-8, and other collagenases: matrix metalloproteinase-3.

📌 VIVA VOCE

Q1. Which stain is used to make the wetted area of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) filter paper strip more visible?

Ans. Ninhydrin stain is used to make the wetted area of GCF filter paper strip more visible.

Q2. Name the drugs which are excreted through GCF.

Ans. Tetracycline, metronidazole and timidazole are drugs which are excreted through GCF.

Q3. What is periopaper?

Ans. Periopaper is a kind of blotter paper on which GCF is collected.

Q4. What is Periotron?

Ans. Periotron is the electronic machine used for measuring the amount of fluid or GCF collected on filter paper.

Q5. Name saliva substitutes.

Ans. Saliva substitutes are as follows:

▪️ Xylitol chewing gum

▪️ Saliva orthana (Nycomed): Oral spray which contain porcine mucin. It is available as lozenge.

▪️ Sialogogues like pilocarpine, cevimeline,bethanechol.

Q6. What are defensins?

Ans. Defensins are active antimicrobial substances produced by junctional epithelial cells.

Q7. What are organulocytes?

Ans. Organulocytes are the living PMNs in saliva.

Q8. What is the effect of smoking on GCF flow?

Ans. Immediate transient increase.

Q9. Which immunoglobulin present in saliva provides the first line of defense in the oral cavity?

Ans. Secretory IgA (sIgA).

Q10. Name microbes which get affected by lactoferrin.

Ans. Actinobacillus and Streptococcus.

📌 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS MCQs

💡 Electronic instrument used to measure GCF is:

A. PeriCheck

B. Periotemp

C. Perioscan

D. Periotron

Answer : D

💡 Drug which reaches maximum concentration in gingival fluid is:

A. Tetracycline 

B. Penicillin

C. Erythromycin 

D. Sulphonamide

Answer : A

💡 The sources of collagenase in GCF can be:

A. Fibroblast 

B. PMN leukocyte

C. Bacteria 

D. All of the above

Answer : D

💡 Which of the following does not increase the flow ofcrevicular fluid:

A. Gingival inflammation

B. Smoking

C. Trauma from occlusion

D. Toothbrushing

Answer : C

💡 The gingival fluid can be collected by:

A. Absorbing paper strips

B. Microcapillary pipettes

C.Gingival washings

D. Any of the above

Answer : D

💡 The predominant immunoglobulin in gingival fluid is:

A. IgA

B. IgG

C. IgM

D. IgE

Answer : B