Salivary calcium was shown to be higher in treated periodontitis-affected subjects (P+) than in periodontitis-free patients (P-). Here the aim was to study whether differences in calcium or other salivary factors exist prior to treatment. The test group consisted of 20 (15 men, 5 women) periodontitis-affected subjects and the control group 15 subjects (10 men, 5 women) free from periodontitis. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected to determine the flow-rate, calcium and phosphate concentrations, pH, buffering capacity, numbers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts. The results showed a higher calcium concentration (p < 0.05) in the P+ group (mean: 1.68 mmol/l; SE: 0.06 in men and mean: 1.49 mmol/l; SE: 0.10 in women) than in the P-group (mean: 1.48 mmol/l; SE: 0.09 in men and mean: 1.18 mmol/l; SE: 0.10 in women). The P+ group had more intact teeth (mean +/- SE: 9.9 +/- 0.8 in men and 11.2 +/- 2.0 in women) than the P-group (mean +/- SE: 8.3 +/- 0.7 in men and 8.2 +/- 2.4 in women). The present findings may indicate that an elevated level of salivary Ca is characteristic of P+ patients both before and after periodontal treatment.