More than 20 years ago, saliva was used to detect the presence of Streptococcus mutans as a mechanism to assess risk and provide for prevention of dental caries. Currently, salivary levels of interleukin-1 are used to evaluate and monitor periodontal disease. Saliva is easier to collect and more stable than blood, which has been used for years to diagnose systemic disease. Since saliva collection is noninvasive, use of the medium could be helpful in diagnosing and monitoring diseases such as oral cancer, Cushing’s Syndrome, HIV, and viral hepatitis. Biomarkers in saliva show a high specificity and sensitivity, with low cost and rapid collection. In addition, multiple markers may help to quickly identify more than one type of tumor. Biomarkers for saliva need to be developed that will be specific to identify disease or health states. Baselines will help establish and interpret changes in-dicative of disease. At this time, while knowledge is incomplete, we do know that proteins are end products. A study of proteins in saliva can assist in determining the effect of disease or medication on salivary makeup. Fluorescence polarization technology is being used to detect antibodies in saliva, such as those that can identify persons exposed to diseases like tuberculosis, and to determine immunity to anthrax. As more work is done in this area and more biomarkers for oral and systemic disease are identified, the diagnostic value of saliva will become accepted. Within the next 2 years, a handheld detection technology for point-of-care disease screening and detection will be available that will identify the biomarkers for many of the diseases listed above, including dental caries and periodontitis. Further work will assist in creating advances and improvement in oral and systemic health.
(Source: The Oral Care Report, Volume 17, Number 1, 2007)
