Predictive salivary biomarkers for early diagnosis of periodontal diseases - current and future developments

Periodontal diseases are chronic diseases of oral cavity comprising of inflammatory conditions which effect the supporting structures of dentition. It is a multifactorial disease which is also known to be affected by genetic and environmental factors. However, some of the clinical parameters such as probing depth, attachment level, plaque index, bleeding on probing and radiographic assessment of alveolar bone are known to assess the severity of disease, although the disease activity is not measured. In the current scenario the salivary diagnostic markers for diagnosis of periodontal diseases have included the salivary enzymes, immunoglobulins, bacterial components or products, phenotypic markers such as epithelial markers. Also, saliva is a mirror of oral and systemic health and a valuable source to find out the physiological aspects of periodontal diseases. The present review thus highlights various salivary biomarkers which are quick, easy and reliable method for assessing and monitoring periodontal disease that improves and speeds treatment decisions and moves the field closer to individualized point-of-care diagnostics.