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The aim of this cross-sectional study is to propose an efficient strategy based on biomarkers adjunct with an interview/questionnaire covering risk factors for periodontitis for the identification of undiagnosed periodontitis by medical professionals. Active matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP)-8 levels in mouthrinse were analyzed by a point-of-care (PoC)/chairside lateral-flow immunotest, and salivary total MMP-8, total MMP-9 and calprotectin levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and active MMP-9 by gelatin zymography for 149 Greek patients. Patients underwent a full-mouth oral health examination for diagnosis according to the 2018 classification system of periodontal diseases. In addition, patient characteristics (risk factors: age, gender, education level, smoking and body mass index) were recorded. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis indicated better diagnostic precision to identify undiagnosed periodontitis for oral fluid biomarkers in adjunct with an interview/questionnaire compared with a plain questionnaire (i.e., risk factors): aMMP-8 AUC (95% confidence interval) = 0.834 (0.761−0.906), total MMP-8 = 0.800 (0.722–0.878), active MMP-9 = 0.787 (0.704–0.870), total MMP-9 = 0.773 (0.687−0.858) and calprotectin = 0.773 (0.687–0.858) vs. questionnaire = 0.764 (0.676–0.851). The findings of this study suggest that oral fluid biomarker analysis, such as a rapid aMMP-8 PoC immunotest, could be used as an adjunct to an interview/questionnaire to improve the precision of timely identification of asymptomatic, undiagnosed periodontitis patients by medical professionals. This strategy appears to be viable for referring patients to a dentist for diagnosis and treatment need assessment.

Smoking poses a significant challenge to oral health, particularly in individuals with dental and periodontal disease. This expert review explores the dual burden of managing periodontal and dental care in smokers, emphasizing the impact of chronic tobacco exposure on disease progression and treatment outcomes. Clinical trials, systematic reviews, and international guidelines were consulted where available. Search terms specific to the topic were entered into PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify the most relevant literature. Chronic smoking accelerates biofilm re-accumulation and periodontal tissue destruction, complicating treatment outcomes. Smoking cessation remains the most effective strategy for mitigating these risks, improving healing, reducing inflammation, and restoring microbiota balance. Dental professionals play a crucial role in integrating smoking cessation support into periodontal care through evidence-based interventions such as behavioral counseling, pharmacotherapy, and harm reduction strategies. Emerging technologies, including mobile health applications and remote monitoring, enhance patient engagement in smoking cessation efforts. Alternative nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, may serve as harm reduction tools for smokers unwilling to quit, though their long-term effects on oral health remain unclear. A multidisciplinary approach that combines periodontal therapy with tailored smoking cessation interventions is essential for improving oral health outcomes in smokers. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to assess the effectiveness of integrated smoking cessation and periodontal treatment strategies. The integration of smoking cessation into routine dental care is essential to improve treatment outcomes and long-term oral health. This review emphasizes the need for evidence-based strategies to manage smokers in dental settings and highlights the importance of further research to refine clinical guidelines.

Introduction: The current gold standard for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA involves subjecting nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs to reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). However, both sample types need to be collected by trained professionals. Using self-collected buccal swabs as an alternative could simplify and accelerate diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objective: To assess self-collected buccal swab samples as an alternative method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Buccal swab samples were self-collected by 73 patients with COVID-19. Total RNA was extracted using Qiagen kits. RNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Env protein and human RNase P as an internal control was amplified using the TRUPCR^® SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kit version 2.1 and a Bio-Rad CFX96 Real-Time Detection System. Result: The sensitivity of RT-qPCR from buccal swabs was 58.9% (43/73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 46.77%–70.27%) and that of RT-qPCR from saliva was 62.90% (39/62; 95% CI 49.69%–74.84%) taking positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR from nasopharyngeal swabs as the gold standard. Conclusion: Self-collected buccal swabs are promising alternatives to nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs for SARS CoV-2 detection.

Background: Periodontitis is a global health crisis that affects almost half of the world’s population and commonly goes unnoticed because of its asymptomatic and pain-free nature. For early and easy detection and treatment, safe and non-invasive chair-side oral fluid biomarker (aMMP-8) diagnostics and new anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-proteolytic treatment modalities have been developed, which this review aims to introduce. Methods: For convenient diagnosis and tackling of periodontitis, adoption of an oral fluid aMMP-8 chair-side point-of-care rapid diagnostic test (POCT) has been proposed, comparable to home pregnancy and COVID-19 antigen tests, to be conveniently used by healthcare professionals and by patients themselves. To improve treatment of detected periodontitis, Finnish scientists have also developed a potentially industry-altering, biofilm-modulating, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proteolytic (i) dual-light-activated photodynamic-therapy (2×PDT) and (ii) fermented lingonberry juice (FLJ) oral rinse designed for home personalized medicine and professional use. These new oral medicine technologies are reviewed and some unpublished results are presented. Results: aMMP-8 is the superior biomarker for grade of periodontitis (progression rate) when compared to the total latent/proform MMP-8 (total-MMP-8) and microbial lipopolysaccharide (LPS/LAL) activity. Cut-off 20 ng/mL is the optimal cut-off for aMMP-8 POCT and does not make false positives. Antibacterial 2× PDT light and anti-microbial FLJ treatments can eliminate and reduce problem-causing bacteria and Candida-yeasts from the mouth. Conclusions: These new oral medicine technologies have shown promising results and could have the potential to revolutionize diagnosis, prevention, oral care, plaque control and maintenance. These new game-changer oral medicine technologies have launched a new clinical field in dentistry: oral clinical chemistry.