Inorganic Biochemical Composition of Salivary Stones in an Armenian Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Sialolithiasis is characterized by the formation of calcified masses, or sialoliths, within salivary gland. Various theories have been proposed to explain sialolith formation, including the organic core theory, the mucoepidermoid gel theory and inflammatory responses theory which can attract calcium-based crystals, thereby promoting sialolith development.This study aimed to analyze the inorganic biochemical composition of salivary stones from an Armenian population, with consideration of factors such as age, sex, and region of residence.The cross-sectional analysis was conducted. A total of 45 sialoliths were collected from patients who underwent sialolithotomy or sialadenectomy. The analysis focused on the inorganic components of the stones and involved techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy and photocolorimetric methods.The results indicated that calcium oxide (CaO) and phosphate (PO ₄ ) were the primary inorganic constituents of the sialoliths, with lower amounts of carbonates and phosphorus pentoxide. The study revealed no significant differences in inorganic composition on the basis of the gender or region of residence of the patients. Statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between phosphate and calcium concentrations. The correlation between Ca and PO₄ concentrations strongly suggests that the main inorganic component of sialoliths is likely to be a calcium phosphate mineral—most likely hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) or related calcium phosphates (such as whitlockite or brushite).This study reinforces previous findings in the literature and adds region-specific data (for an Armenian population), suggesting that the Ca–PO₄ relationship is a consistent feature of sialoliths regardless of demographic or geographic factors.