Saliva as a Diagnostic Fluid for Periodontal Diseases: A Literature Review

Abstract

Most of the periodontal disease diagnostics are based upon traditional clinical methods of assessment like bleeding upon probing, clinical attachment level and probable pocket depth. These methods monitor disease history rather than appraising the disease activity or predicting future risk of periodontal breakdown. The field of salivary diagnostics is a promising target for risk determination of periodontal diseases.  Saliva is a hypotonic biofluid containing a variety of hormones, enzymes, cytokines, bacteria, and their by-products. Salivary analytes may reveal existing disease severity as well as activity and may help in the subject level risk assessment of periodontal disease. The use of salivary diagnostics as a reliable means for risk assessment, preliminary diagnosis, establishing prognosis, and post-therapy status monitoring shows significant promise.