Saliva - A Potential Diagnostic Tool

The clinical applications of saliva range from drug monitoring to the diagnosis of systemic diseases and local conditions affecting salivary glands. Early disease detection is crucial to reduce disease severity and prevent complications as well as to increase the success rate of therapy. Saliva offers some distinctive advantages when used for the diagnosis of disease. The whole saliva can be collected non-invasively and by individuals with limited training including the patient. From a logistical perspective the collection of saliva is safe and simple and it may be collected repeatedly without discomfort to the patient. Salivaomics has the potential to diagnose diseases in their early stages. However research on saliva and its applications for the diagnosis of the disease is still in its early stages. This book summarizes the potential of saliva as a diagnostic tool in infectious and non -communicable diseases pertaining to oral and general health as well as for pharmacovigilance.