Metabolome of saliva as a diagnostic tool in dentistry

Abstract

Caries is an etiologically multicomponent pathological process in the hard tissues of the teeth, which occurs after their eruption and takes the first place among all diseases, its prevalence reaches 100% among the population of the whole world. An important role is played by the conditions associated with the early detection of predictors of caries and the creation of conditions to ensure the reduction of their negative impact. The aim of the study – analysis of literary sources, which concerns the identification of the salivary metabolome as a promising diagnostic tool in dentistry. Materials and methods. A search was conducted for scientific studies contained in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases and related to the identification of salivary metabolites and proteins associated with dental caries. The results. In adults and children, there is a connection between various components of saliva and dental caries. Identification of a set of specific biomarkers for populations at high caries risk is not only important for early diagnosis, but also for caries prevention and treatment. According to the data of leading scientists, a statistically significant increase in the salivary levels of alpha-amylase, acidic proline-rich protein-1, histatin-5, lactoperoxidase, and mucin-1 was found in patients with caries, while the salivary levels of carbonic anhydrase 6, proteinase-3, and staterin significantly increased in patients caries free. Conclusion. The study of the salivary metabolome is a non-invasive, affordable and economically justifiable promising diagnostic tool in dentistry, in particular for the identification of preclinical predictors of the occurrence and progression of caries. It is advisable to test the identified biomarkers in larger cohorts and longitudinally, taking into account age, gender differences and the level of oral hygiene and dietary habits.