Saliva and COVID-19: Current Evidence and Clinical Implications for Dental Practice

Abstarct

Saliva is an important biofluid related to SAR-CoV-2 transmission and diagnosis, which is applicably important to dentistry due to the professional’s high risk. Evidence found that saliva is a potential source of viral particles and a suitable sample for diagnosis . ACE2 receptors are found in very high numbers in our salivary glands just like any other parts. As such, SARS-CoV-2 in saliva can cause droplets and aerosol transmission.  It is worrisome especially during aerosol-generating dental procedures. Saliva diagnostics through Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR), Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and other have similar sensitivity as nasopharyngeal swab based diagnostics. Furthermore, they are non-invasive, have reduced exposure for providers and enable bulk screening. The existence of salivary antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgM) is pertinent in the assessment of the host immune responses. These findings favour the use of saliva in dentistry to screen and monitor and minimize risks. Different sensitivity for various disease stages requires new standards for the protocol. In general, saliva can act as a double-edged sword. This can be a channel through which infections spread and can also aid diagnosis. There needs to be stringent infection control measures. Simultaneously, innovative diagnostic modalities in dentistry are needed by the industry.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17736767

Bangladesh Journal of Dental Research & Education 

official publication of Bangladesh Academy of Dentistry International (BADI)®

ISSN (Online): 2308-9733 

ISSN (Print): 2225-9015 

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