Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Oral biomarkers in the diagnosis and progression of periodontal diseases

*Zia A, Khan S, Bey A, Gupta ND, Mukhtar-Un-Nisar S

Periodontitis is a disease characterized by loss of connective tissue attachment and bone around the teeth in conjunction with the formation of periodontal pockets due to the apical migration of the junctional epithelium. Early diagnosis and treatment of progressive periodontitis is important because of the irreversible nature of this disease The long-term aim is that treatment and prevention of periodontal disease will be founded on diagnostic tests based on aetiopathogenic factors rather than just clinical experience. Clinical measurements used in diagnosis of periodontal diseases are often of limited usefulness in that they are indications of previous periodontal disease rather than the present disease activity. Biochemical mediators in oral fluids like saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) are highly beneficial in the determination of current periodontal status. These substances known as biomarkers help in determination of inflammatory mediator levels, as they are good indicators of inflammatory activity. This review highlights recent advances in the use of salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) biomarker-based disease diagnostics that focus on the identification of active periodontal disease.