Oral fluid based biomarkers in periodontal disease: part 1. Saliva

Traditional clinical measurements such as probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment loss; plaque index and radiographs used for periodontal diagnosis are often of limited usefulness as they are indicators of previous periodontal disease rather than present disease activity. A literature search was carried out to find out all the available tests that indicate periodontal disease markers in saliva. All major databases were searched to compile the information on published reports between 1999 and 2014. The list of biomarkers available to date is compiled and presented in a table format. Each biomarker is discussed separately based on the available evidence. Based on the evidence, it can be concluded that several sensitive salivary indicators of periodontitis are available to detect the presence, severity and response to treatment. Further studies are warranted to analyze the sensitivity and reliability of these indicators that might help in developing non-invasive tests that could help in the diagnosis of periodontal disease.