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Inflammatory signatures may distinguish dental caries

Combining IL-17 with TNF-alpha showed strong discrimination between carious lesions and healthy controls, but performance was more modest against gingival inflammation.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • September 9, 2026

  • 3 min

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Clinical Report: Inflammatory signatures may distinguish dental caries

Overview

A study identified a salivary cytokine signature that can differentiate carious lesions from healthy oral states, although its effectiveness in distinguishing caries from gingival inflammation is limited.

Background

Dental caries is a prevalent infectious disease that leads to tooth decay and is influenced by various factors including oral hygiene and diet. This study explores the role of salivary cytokines as potential indicators of carious lesions.

Data Highlights

The study analyzed 65 patients aged 18 to 30 years with carious lesions, gingival inflammation, or healthy states. Key findings include:

Key Findings

  • All 9 cytokines were detectable in over 97% of samples, with 8 found in all patients.
  • TNF-alpha was the strongest discriminator of carious lesions from healthy controls.
  • IL-6 levels were elevated in patients with carious lesions compared to healthy controls.
  • The combination of IL-17 and TNF-alpha provided the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for distinguishing carious lesions from healthy controls.
  • Adding a third cytokine did not significantly improve discriminatory performance.
  • The study's findings are exploratory and require validation in larger cohorts.

Clinical Implications

Further research is necessary to validate these findings in diverse populations.

Conclusion

Further investigation in larger studies is warranted.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Dubois M, et al., BDJ Open, 2026 -- Ultrasensitive multiplex salivary cytokine profiling reveals distinct immune signatures in dental caries
  2. inside dentistry — Caries Detection
  3. MDSpire News — Caries May Signal Oral Antibiotic Resistance
  4. inside dentistry — Determining the Best Protocol for Early Caries Lesions
  5. inside dentistry — Applying Technology to the Caries Conundrum
  6. Caries Detection
  7. Caries May Signal Oral Antibiotic Resistance
  8. Determining the Best Protocol for Early Caries Lesions
  9. Position and Policy Statement on Salivary Biology and Diagnostics
  10. American Dental Association and American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology patient selection for dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography - PMC
  11. 3Shape Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for 3Shape Dx Software - 3Shape
  12. https://www.medicinaoral.com/medoralfree01/aop/27329.pdf
  13. Ultrasensitive multiplex salivary cytokine profiling reveals distinct immune signatures in dental caries | BDJ Open
  14. Salivary immune alteration persists after caries treatment | Scientific Reports
  15. Salivary Diagnostics | NIDCR

Original Source(s)

Inflammatory signatures may distinguish dental caries

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • September 9, 2026

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