CHICAGO: Saliva may soon become one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in modern dentistry, according to experts who recently gathered at the American Dental Association (ADA) Salivary Diagnostics Summit to discuss how advances in salivary biomarkers could reshape the future of oral healthcare.
The summit brought together dental researchers, clinicians, physicians, diagnostic companies, technology experts, investors, insurers and policymakers to examine how saliva-based testing can move beyond research laboratories into everyday clinical practice.
Rather than debating whether salivary diagnostics have scientific value, participants focused on a more practical question: how the dental profession can develop the clinical standards, regulatory pathways and evidence-based guidelines needed to integrate saliva testing into routine patient care.
The discussions reflected growing international interest in precision dentistry, preventive oral healthcare and early disease detection through non-invasive diagnostic technologies.
Why saliva is attracting global attention
Experts at the summit described saliva as one of the body's most information-rich biological fluids, capable of providing valuable insights into both oral and overall health.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Débora Heller—Immediate Past President of the Salivary Research Group at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and Vice President of the IADR Clinical & Translational Science Network—said advances in science have brought salivary diagnostics to a turning point.
"The science is here," she said, calling on the dental profession to move from research evidence towards real-world implementation.
Dr Heller explained that saliva performs several essential protective functions within the oral cavity, including lubricating tissues, neutralizing acids, supporting enamel remineralization and maintaining a healthy oral microbiome.
Beyond these protective roles, researchers increasingly recognize saliva as a biological fluid capable of reflecting changes occurring throughout the body.
Potential to detect oral and systemic diseases
Researchers highlighted a growing body of evidence suggesting that salivary biomarkers could eventually assist dentists in identifying patients at risk of numerous oral and systemic diseases.
Potential applications discussed during the summit included:
• Periodontal (gum) disease
• Dental caries (tooth decay)
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Alzheimer's disease
Experts noted that saliva-based testing could complement conventional dental examinations by providing objective biological information that supports earlier diagnosis, personalized treatment planning and ongoing disease monitoring.
Such an approach aligns with the broader movement towards precision medicine, where prevention and treatment are increasingly tailored to an individual's biological profile.
Technology is catching up with science
According to researchers, rapid advances in genomic sequencing, microbiome analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have dramatically expanded scientists' ability to analyze saliva with greater accuracy than ever before.
Dr Heller said these technological breakthroughs are enabling researchers to identify biomarkers that were previously difficult or impossible to detect.
She also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an important demonstration of saliva's value in diagnostics.
The widespread use of saliva-based COVID-19 testing showed that non-invasive diagnostic technologies can be deployed rapidly and effectively when supported by strong scientific evidence and public health need.
Experts believe the same scientific foundation could now help accelerate the development of salivary diagnostics in dentistry.
Dry mouth remains an overlooked clinical challenge
One area receiving particular attention during the summit was hyposalivation, commonly known as reduced saliva production.
Dr Heller noted that medication-related dry mouth remains a major but often under-recognized healthcare issue, explaining that more than 42% of medications list dry mouth as a potential side effect.
Without establishing a patient's baseline salivary function, dentists often identify problems only after symptoms have already developed.
Researchers suggested that routine salivary assessments could allow clinicians to recognize declining salivary function earlier, helping prevent tooth decay, oral infections and other complications associated with chronic dry mouth.
What still needs to happen before widespread adoption
Despite the excitement surrounding salivary diagnostics, experts agreed that important challenges must be addressed before the technology becomes a standard part of dental care.
Participants emphasized the need for:
• Scientifically validated salivary tests
• Standardized biomarker reference ranges
• Clearly defined diagnostic thresholds
• Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
• Regulatory approval pathways
• Practical clinical workflows for dental practices
• Education for dentists and patients
Experts stressed that dentists must know not only how to perform salivary tests, but also how to interpret the results and incorporate them into evidence-based treatment decisions.
Supporting precision dentistry
Maria Ryan, Vice President and Chief Dental Officer at Colgate, said saliva-based diagnostics could strengthen dentistry's role in precision medicine by adding measurable biochemical information to traditional clinical examinations.
She noted that salivary testing may improve patient education, disease risk assessment, treatment planning and long-term monitoring of oral health conditions.
By combining biological markers with clinical observations, dentists could potentially deliver more personalized care while identifying disease risks before irreversible damage occurs.
A new chapter for modern dentistry
Although participants acknowledged that routine salivary diagnostics are not yet ready for universal clinical adoption, the summit concluded with broad consensus that the science has advanced significantly.
Experts agreed that continued research, international collaboration, regulatory progress and professional education will be essential to translating laboratory discoveries into everyday dental practice.
As dentistry continues shifting towards prevention, personalized medicine and minimally invasive care, saliva-based diagnostics are increasingly viewed as one of the profession's most promising innovations—offering the potential to transform how dentists detect disease, assess risk and protect both oral and overall health.
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