Periodontium is the functional unit of tissues supporting the tooth including gingiva, the periodontal ligament, the cementum and the alveolar process. The tooth and periodontium are together called as the dento-periodontal unit. The main support of the tooth is provided by the periodontal ligament, which connects the cementum of the root to the alveolar bone or tooth socket, into which the root fits. The main function of the gingiva is to protect the surrounding tissues from the oral environment.Periodontitis is an infection-driven inflammatory disease in tooth supporting tissues (i.e., the...

Dental caries is a multifactorial microbial disease of the tooth and is one of the most common health problems. Saliva, a complex mixture of fluids is secreted by the major and minor salivary glands that surrounds the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity that is composed of organic and inorganic components. Saliva is one of the intraoral host factors that influence caries development. Salivary components, its flow, viscosity, buffering capacity, etc., play a major role in the prevention, initiation and progression of the disease. As a diagnostic fluid, saliva offers distinctive advantages...