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Oral polymorphonuclear neutrophil (oPMN) levels are potential biomarkers for periodontitis; however, their prognostic utility in terms of periodontitis staging and grading is unknown. Using the gold standard clinical parameter for assessing periodontal inflammation (i.e., bleeding on probing (BOP)), we compared the prognostic utility of oPMN levels against BOP% in terms of differentiating between periodontitis stages II-III and grades B-C. We also studied potential correlations between oPMN level and BOP% with the detection of periodontal pathogens in the gingivocrevicular fluid (GCF). oPMN level was associated with advanced periodontitis stage and grade; where, patients exceeding the computed threshold value of > 1.43 × 106/mL oPMN suggested stage III and grade C as the appropriate periodontal diagnoses. Significant positive associations were also identified between oPMN level and the detection of pathogenic bacteria. These findings suggest oPMN level may be useful as a multi-purpose risk indicator, both in terms of diagnosing periodontitis and determining the risk for disease progression, but also in recognizing periodontal pockets in which putative species colonize.