Salivary biomarkers as potential diagnostic tool for temporomandibular disorders: A comprehensive review

Objective To review the current scientific literature concerning the implication of biomarkers collected from saliva in the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD).Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, MEDLINE and Web of Science to gather articles published between 2012 and 2021. Based on the eligibility criteria, articles were reviewed in full and precise data was extracted.Results Nine clinical studies were selected. Participants with TMD were all diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. Specific biomarkers were examined from saliva samples. Results related to TMD showed a significant range of variability.Conclusion Specific salivary biomarkers have been investigated, but current efforts are aiming to search for more possible biomarkers from saliva samples as a safe procedure. Future research needs to consider the sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers as diagnostic tools for TMD.