A team from the School of Dentistry and Department of Oral Biology at UCLA has created a non-invasive test to diagnose and track the progression of gingivitis.
BACKGROUND:
Gingivitis is one of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases in humans and is characterized by irritation and swelling of the gums. If left unchecked, gingivitis can lead to teeth loss. Typically, dentists diagnose gingivitis through visual inspection. The subjective nature of diagnosis creates a need for a non-invasive objective way to diagnose and track the progression of gingivitis. Currently, no validated biomarkers exist for the diagnosis of gingivitis.
INNOVATION:
A team from the School of Dentistry and Department of Oral Biology at UCLA has created a non-invasive test to diagnose and track the progression of gingivitis. Their research has led to the identification of 8 genetic, salivary biomarkers that significantly correlate with the progression or regression of gingivitis. Four of them have increased expression profiles with gingivitis, and the other four have a decreased expression profile. A combination of these biomarkers has created a panel that can diagnose gingivitis with 71% sensitivity (true positive/ (true positive + false negative)) and 100% specificity (true negative/ (true negative + false positive)).
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Diagnosis of Gingivitis
• Tracking progression of gingivitis
• Methodology can potentially be used for other oral diseases
ADVANTAGES:
• Non-invasive
• Objective
• Quick
• Accurate