Salivary biomarkers in stomatology, an adjunct for the detection of other diseases: A literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary biomarkers allow for the identification, monitoring, and prediction of altered molecules in certain diseases. Saliva contains more than 2000 quantifiable proteins; therefore, it is an excellent source of non-invasive information collection for the identification, treatment and monitoring of oral diseases and possible detection of systemic diseases.Objective: To analyze the literature on salivary biomarkers commonly used in the diagnosis and monitoring of some oral and systemic diseases.Methodology: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords "biomarkers", "oral diseases", "systemic diseases", "saliva", and "diagnosis" were used with the aim of finding in the scientific literature the classification and uses of salivary biomarkers in both the medical and stomatology fields.Results: There is a wide variety of biomarkers used in the medical field. Salivary biomarkers are a group of markers that, according to the consulted literature, have high potential in the diagnosis of both systemic and oral diseases.Conclusion: Salivary biomarkers could be used as a non-invasive test for the early detection of an existing systemic disease in the dental office. This initial approach could facilitate timely medical attention and help establish a relationship between oral health and systemic health.