Mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches for salivary protein biomarkers discovery and dental caries diagnosis: A critical review

Dental caries is a multifactorial chronic disease resulting from the intricate interplay among acid-generating bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates, and several host factors such as saliva. Saliva comprises several proteins which could be utilized as biomarkers for caries prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis. Mass spectrometry-based salivary proteomics approaches, owing to their sensitivity, provide the opportunity to investigate and unveil crucial cariogenic pathogen activity and host indicators and may demonstrate clinically relevant biomarkers to improve caries diagnosis and management. The present review outlines the published literature of human clinical proteomics investigations on caries and extensively elucidates frequently reported salivary proteins as biomarkers. This review also discusses important aspects while designing an experimental proteomics workflow. The protein–protein interactions and the clinical relevance of salivary proteins as biomarkers for caries, together with uninvestigated domains of the discipline are also discussed critically.