The invention describes a method of predicting the risk of caries in a subject and a kit based on said method, characterized in that the method involves the following steps: (a) determining the concentration in the saliva of the subject of: (i) at least one compound selected from among the components of the saliva of the immune system; (ii) at least one compound selected from among those involved in microbial adhesion to a surface of the buccal cavity; and (iii) at least one compound selected from among the components involved in the metabolism or regulation of pH in the buccal cavity; (b) comparing a response variable calculated on the basis of the at least one of the concentrations determined in (i), at least one of the concentrations determined in (ii), and at least one of the concentrations determined in (iii) in step (a) with a corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries or in a population of subjects with caries; and (c) determining the risk of caries on the basis of the degree of difference in the response variable compared in step (b), wherein a higher degree of difference between the response variable of the subject and the corresponding reference response variable in a population of subjects without caries or in a population of subjects with caries is indicative of a higher risk of caries in said subject.

The disclosure provides compositions and methods for the detection of renal disease and periodontal disease in mammals.

Disclosed is an in vitro method for assessing whether a human subject has periodontitis. The method comprises detecting, in a sample of saliva from said subject, the concentrations of the proteins Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8). Based on the concentrations determined, and adding age, and possibly other demographic markers such as sex and/or BMI, a testing value reflecting the joint concentrations is determined for said proteins, in combination with one or more demographic markers. The testing value is compared with a threshold value. The threshold reflects in the same manner the joint concentrations and the age, and possibly other demographic markers, as associated with periodontitis and may be seen as an upper limit of testing values as seen in a population of subjects without periodontitis. Thereby a testing value at or above the threshold value is indicative for periodontitis in said subject.

Acidic oral compositions having calcium contents and effective pH-values in the area indicated by grey-tone in FIG. 2 are non-erosive in saliva and capable of stimulating saliva production, even in dry mouth patients. A new multi-step test method for determining erosive potential in saliva has been used for identifying the compositions.

The present invention provides an inhibitor of an autoimmune response to a periodontal bacterial enzymatic degradation product of keratin in gingival epithelium in a mammal having a periodontal bacterium in the oral cavity, containing a substance having affinity to the keratin or a degradation product thereof and/or a substance having affinity to an autoantibody to the degradation product, an agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a periodontal disease and/or a complication thereof; a RANKL expression inhibitor containing a substance having affinity to the keratin or a degradation product thereof; and a method of diagnosing a periodontal disease including detecting the keratin or a degradation product thereof and/or an autoantibody thereto.

Disclosed is an in vitro method for assessing the presence of gingivitis in a human subject. The method is based on the insight to determine a selection of three biomarker proteins. Accordingly, in a saliva sample of the subject the concentrations are measured of the proteins Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Interleukin-1 (IL-1), and at least one of C reactive protein (CRP) and Haemoglobin. Based on the concentrations as measured, a value is determined reflecting the joint concentrations for said proteins. This value is compared with a threshold value reflecting in the same manner the joint concentrations associated with the absence of gingivitis or periodontitis. The comparison allows to assessing whether the testing value is indicative of the presence of gingivitis in said subject. Thereby, typically, a testing value reflecting a joint concentration above the joint concentration reflected by the threshold, is indicative of the presence of gingivitis.

Disclosed is an in vitro method for assessing whether a human patient suffering from periodontitis has mild periodontitis or advanced periodontitis. The method is based on the insight to determine a selection of three biomarker proteins. Accordingly, in a sample of saliva a patient suffering from periodontitis, the concentrations are measured of the proteins Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and at least one of the proteins: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). Based on the concentrations as measured, a value is determined reflecting the joint concentrations for said proteins. This value is compared with a threshold value reflecting in the same manner the joint concentrations associated with advanced periodontitis. The comparison allows assessing whether the testing value is indicative of the presence of advanced periodontitis or of mild periodontitis in said patient. Thereby, typically, a testing value reflecting a joint concentration below the joint concentration reflected by the threshold value is indicative for mild periodontitis in said patient, and a testing value reflecting a joint concentration at or above the joint concentration reflected by the threshold value, is indicative for advanced periodontitis in said patient.

The present invention relates to a novel MMP-8 activation product such as a MMP-8 middle-part activation product. The invention also relates to detecting such a MMP-8 activation product or activated MMP-8 fragments in a biological sample derived from a subject and to the use thereof for diagnosing diseases which relate to abnormal or elevated levels of activated MMP-8.

Teeth are screened for periodontal disease using digitized images manipulated and annotated on a processor. A digitized radiographic image of a tooth shows locations of a bone boundary and a cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth. The digitized radiographic image is marked on the processor with a location on the bone boundary and with a pair of CEJ points at opposite ends of the CEJ visible in the radiograph. A ratio between (a) a distance between the bone boundary location and the adjacent CEJ point as numerator and (b) a distance between the CEJ points as denominator is calculated on the processor and compared with a threshold ratio-value for a corresponding tooth from a database accessible by the processor. A calculated ratio-value which is greater than the database threshold ratio-value is indicative of periodontal disease in the tooth. The probability of the correct diagnostic decision is determined by the relative magnitude of the calculated ratio-value and the threshold ratio-value.

The present disclosure provides an oral sampling device for chemical examination of an oral cavity. The oral sampling device includes an oral sampling support substrate, and a bioresponsive interface coupled to the oral sampling support substrate. The bioresponsive interface is composed of a biopolymer matrix comprising a sensing agent. In some aspects, the bioresponsive interface undergoes a color change in response to an environmental parameter (e.g., pH value) in the region of interest in the oral cavity.