At Briargate Advanced Family Dental, we’re witnessing an exciting evolution in how we understand and monitor both oral and systemic health. Salivary diagnostics represents one of the most promising advances in our field—a non-invasive approach that provides valuable insights into your overall wellbeing while complementing traditional diagnostic methods.
Understanding Salivary Diagnostics
Saliva and other oral fluids serve essential functions in maintaining the health of tissues throughout your mouth. Beyond these protective roles, oral fluids contain a wealth of biological information—proteins, nucleic acids (including human and microbial DNA, mRNA, and microRNA), and various metabolites that can reveal important health indicators.
Salivary diagnostics analyzes these biocomponents to detect biomarkers associated with both health and disease. Unlike traditional blood tests that require needles and extensive laboratory processing, salivary testing uses a simple saliva sample collected in just minutes, offering a more comfortable experience for our patients.
Current Applications and Emerging Possibilities
Clinical laboratories currently use oral fluid testing for several validated purposes, including detection of viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HPV, and HSV, as well as screening for other infectious agents like Candida albicans. These tests are regulated through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), ensuring quality and reliability. The FDA has granted emergency use authorization to several salivary diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection, demonstrating the viability of this testing medium.
The potential applications extend far beyond infectious disease detection. Research suggests that salivary biomarkers may eventually help us identify early signs of conditions including diabetes, certain cancers, hormonal imbalances, and periodontal disease. While we’re excited about these possibilities, we want to be transparent: as of October 2023, there are no FDA-approved salivary diagnostic tests specifically for evaluating periodontal disease risk, dental caries risk, or head and neck cancer. The field continues to evolve as researchers work to address important challenges, including identification of disease-specific markers, improving test sensitivity and specificity, and standardizing collection and storage protocols.
The Benefits of Salivary Testing
Non-Invasive and Convenient
The absence of needles makes salivary testing particularly appealing for patients who experience anxiety about traditional blood draws. Sample collection takes only minutes and can be performed comfortably in our office, making regular monitoring more accessible and less stressful.
Supporting Early Detection
When validated tests become available, the ability to detect biomarkers in saliva could enable earlier identification of developing conditions, allowing for more timely intervention and potentially better outcomes.
Real-Time Health Monitoring
The ease of collection allows for more frequent sampling compared to blood tests, providing opportunities for ongoing monitoring of chronic conditions and tracking changes over time.
Enhanced Patient Engagement
Many patients find the convenience and accessibility of salivary testing empowering. It can encourage more proactive involvement in one’s own health management and help facilitate informed conversations about wellness and prevention.
Reduced Infection Risk
Without needles or invasive procedures, salivary testing eliminates risks associated with blood draws—particularly important for immunocompromised patients or those prone to infection.
Our Approach at Briargate Advanced Family Dental
We incorporate salivary testing thoughtfully into comprehensive care when clinically indicated. During your initial examination, our focus remains on gathering a complete picture of your oral health through thorough evaluation—we want to emphasize that no cleaning is performed during this first visit. Instead, we invest time in understanding your unique situation to create a truly personalized care plan.
When salivary testing is appropriate for your specific circumstances, we use validated tests from reputable laboratories. The process is straightforward: we collect a simple saliva sample, send it for analysis of specific biomarkers, and receive detailed results that help inform your care plan. We then work with you to interpret these findings and develop appropriate next steps, which may include additional diagnostics, lifestyle modifications, or preventive measures.
A Holistic Perspective
At Briargate Advanced Family Dental, we recognize that oral health doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s intricately connected to overall systemic health. Salivary diagnostics, when appropriately applied using validated tests, represents one tool in our broader approach to comprehensive care. We’re committed to staying current with emerging research and incorporating evidence-based advances that genuinely benefit our patients.
We believe in being honest about both the current capabilities and limitations of available technologies. While salivary diagnostics holds tremendous promise for the future, we use it judiciously today as part of a holistic approach that combines clinical expertise, proven diagnostic methods, and emerging technologies to serve your health needs.
Looking Forward
The field of salivary diagnostics continues to advance rapidly, with ongoing research exploring new applications and refining existing ones. As new FDA-approved tests become available and standardization improves, we anticipate that salivary testing will play an increasingly important role in dental and medical care. We’re committed to evaluating these developments critically and incorporating validated advances that truly enhance the care we provide.
Your Partner in Comprehensive Care
At Briargate Advanced Family Dental, located at 595 Chapel Hills Dr #105, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, we’re honored to serve as your partner in maintaining optimal oral and systemic health. Whether you’re interested in learning more about salivary diagnostics or simply seeking comprehensive dental care, we invite you to schedule an appointment with our team.
We approach every patient relationship with humility and respect, recognizing that you entrust us with your health and wellbeing. Our goal is to provide evidence-based care that’s both innovative and grounded in sound clinical practice, always placing your individual needs and comfort at the center of everything we do.