Salivary tests: A potential gateway to systemic health
Salivary tests could provide avenues for early disease detection and prevention and opportunities to streamline diagnosis.
Although blood samples have long been the standard for disease diagnosis, this type of diagnostic can come with physical and psychological barriers, according to a news article from the Los Angeles Times. However, advances in biotechnology could redefine the role of salivary tests.
Experts cited in the article detailed that because proteins, enzymes and genetic material can pass from the blood into the salivary glands, saliva samples may contain the same biomarkers of systemic diseases. As a result, clinicians could perform less invasive testing and more frequent monitoring, improving access to care.
Further, elevated levels of certain salivary markers may be predictive of oral diseases prior to clinical presentation and aid in identifying patients who may be more susceptible to experiencing dental decay. Clinicians may be able to leverage saliva samples for their protein profiles to administer earlier interventions and improve outcomes.
The experts emphasized that inflammation and infections in the oral cavity can reveal overall health. Systemic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease can share pathways, representing how processes occurring in the mouth can influence overall health and vice versa.
The opportunities salivary tests may offer in enhancing oral and systemic health could signal their more widespread incorporation.
For more information, visit the ADA Oral Health Topic: Salivary Diagnostics at ada.org.
Read more: Los Angeles Times
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