Salivary proteins as predictors and controls for oral health

J Cell Commun Signal. 2011 Dec;5(4):271-5. doi: 10.1007/s12079-011-0151-1. Epub 2011 Sep 18.

Abstract

We will provide a translational view of using the recent technological advances in dental research for predicting, monitoring, and preventing the development of oral diseases by investigating the diagnostic and therapeutic role of salivary proteins. New analytical state-of-the-art technologies such as mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy have revolutionized the field of oral biology. These novel technologies open avenues for a comprehensive characterization of the salivary proteins followed by the evaluation of the physiological functions which could make possible in a near future the development of a new series of synthetic protein for therapeutic propose able to prevent global oral diseases such as periodontal disease and dental caries, the two most prevalent oral diseases in the World.