Insights into Preventive Dentistry by Evaluating Lactoferrin for Caries Control and Periodontal Disease Prevention

Background: Salivary defensins play an important role in periodontal disease prevention. This study evaluated the role of salivary lactoferrin, an antimicrobial peptide, in preventive dentistry by assessing its expression in caries and periodontal disease patients. Methods: After study approval, this cross-sectional study (October 2022 to June 2023) was conducted with 60 participants, including healthy individuals (n = 20) and patients with gingivitis or periodontitis (n = 40) using consecutive sampling technique inter-collaboratively at LUMHS Jamshoro, Islam Medical and Dental College Lahore, University Medical and Dental College Faisalabad including Analytical Assessments at Rahbar College of Dentistry, Lahore. Saliva and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected with informed consent. The experimental groups consisted of antimicrobial-treated (case) and untreated (control) subjects. Antimicrobial interventions included lactoferrin-based formulations, chlorhexidine, and fluoride. Total RNA was extracted, converted to cDNA, and analyzed via qRT-PCR to quantify LTF (lactoferrin gene) expression, normalized to GAPDH. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, employing ANOVA and t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: Lactoferrin expression was significantly upregulated (2.7) in response to antimicrobial interventions. The increase was more pronounced in healthy individuals and gingivitis patients compared to periodontitis cases. Lactoferrin formulations demonstrated stronger antimicrobial effects, reducing pathogenic bacterial load and inflammation markers. (CRP 2.1, IL-6 4.8). Conclusion: Lactoferrin plays a critical role in oral microbiome balance, showing potential in caries control and periodontal disease prevention. Its expression profiling can serve as a biomarker for monitoring oral health and therapeutic efficacy. Further studies are needed to explore its long-term clinical applications.