Diagnostics of periodontitis based on salivary HGF and MMP-8

An in vitro method for determining a change in status of oral health in a human subject over a time interval from a first time point t1 to a second time point t2, the method comprising:

• detecting, in at least one sample of saliva obtained from said subject at t1 and in at least one sample of saliva obtained from said patient at t2, the concentrations of proteins consisting of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), and
• comparing the concentrations determined at t1 and at t2, whereby a difference in both concentrations reflects a change in status of oral health of the human subject, the change in status comprising an indication that the human subject has periodontitis at t2;
• and
• administering, in response to determining that the human subject has periodontitis at t2, a treatment comprising a dental procedure and/or administration of an anti-periodontitis therapeutic agent.

A method for treating a subject diagnosed with periodontitis, comprising:

• receiving a diagnosis of periodontitis for the subject, the diagnosis comprising a result of comparison of a testing value to a threshold value, wherein the diagnosis is made by:
• determining the age of the subject and detecting, in a sample of saliva from said subject, the concentrations of proteins consisting of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8);
• determining a single testing value for the subject comprising a combination of the determined concentrations of HGF and MMP-8 and the determined age of the subject;
• and
• comparing the determined testing value with a threshold value, the threshold value reflecting in the same manner the joint combined concentrations of HGF and MMP-8 and age as associated with periodontitis;
• diagnosing, based on the comparison where the testing value exceeds the threshold value, that the subject has periodontitis;
• and
• administering, in response to receiving the diagnosis of periodontitis for the subject, a treatment comprising a dental procedure and/or administration of an anti-periodontitis therapeutic agent.