Role of Salivary Biomarkers IL-1β and MMP-8 in Early Detection and Staging of Periodontal Disease

<i>Background</i>: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth. Early diagnosis is crucial for preventing severe complications. This study investigates and compares the utility of two salivary biomarkers, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), in the early detection and staging of periodontal disease. <i>Methods</i>: This study included 189 patients, all of whom were evaluated both clinically and biologically. Each participant provided unstimulated saliva samples, which were analyzed using ELISA methods to quantify IL-1β and MMP-8 levels. Clinical periodontal data, including probing depth (3.9 ± 0.6 mm), clinical attachment loss (3.4 ± 0.6 mm), and Plaque Index (2.35 ± 0.55), were collected for all subjects. Biomarker concentrations were then correlated with these clinical parameters and with disease severity, classified according to the 2018 EFP/AAP criteria. <i>Results</i>: IL-1β levels (210 ± 95 pg/mL) were strongly associated with early gingival inflammation, while MMP-8 levels (185 ± 140 ng/mL) correlated with periodontal tissue destruction (<i>p</i> < 0.01). MMP-8 showed a higher sensitivity for diagnosing advanced stages (<i>p</i> = 0.002), whereas IL-1β was more effective in detecting early inflammatory changes (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Logistic regression identified MMP-8 as a significant predictor of advanced disease (coefficient 0.85, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and IL-1β as an indicator of early inflammation (coefficient 0.25, <i>p</i> = 0.02). <i>Conclusions</i>: Both biomarkers are valuable tools for the diagnosis and staging of periodontal disease. MMP-8 is relevant for identifying advanced cases, while IL-1β supports early detection. Their combined use may enhance diagnostic accuracy and guide personalized periodontal care.