The role of bone-specific biomarkers in chronic periodontitis diagnosis and treatment outcomes - a systematic review

Background The biomarkers of bone turnover may be vital for early detection of bone destruction in chronic periodontitis (CP). Lately, several new biochemical markers have been applied to estimate bone homeostasis. Objective The current review aims to evaluate the role of bone biomarkers in diagnosis and treatment outcomes of CP. Methods Literature search was conducted in databases like Medline (PubMed) and Scopus to include original research articles related to the role of bone biomarkers in CP. About 914 documents were identified through primary search, of which 11 original research articles were included. Results The most common bone biomarker applied in periodontal diagnosis was RANKL. Certain newer biomarkers like ICTP were also found to be useful in early detection of progressive CP. Conclusion The bone turnover biomarkers may serve as an adjunct to the traditional methods of periodontal diagnosis. They are vital in identifying the subjects at risk for future periodontal breakdown as well as in determining the therapeutic outcomes. Their applications in periodontal diagnosis is still in the developing stage and requires further investigation. With this background, the current systematic review evaluated the role of bone-specific biomarkers in CP diagnosis and treatment outcomes.