Saliva testing is often praised as one of the most innovative tools in dentistry by dental executives and practitioners.
The development of rapid tests during the COVID-19 pandemic fueled interest in salivary diagnostic tests, leading them to be examined for their effectiveness at screening patients for oral or systemic diseases, monitoring infections and evaluating other disorders.
Here are four things to know about saliva diagnostics in 2025:
1. The ADA Forsyth Institute is among several companies developing saliva tests for use in oral healthcare. Researchers at the institute are also examining new biomarkers related to dental diseases, according to a May 1 news release.
2. While saliva testing performed by laboratories has previously been regulated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, the FDA issued a final rule last year to increase its oversight of lab-developed tests by 2028.
3. The only saliva diagnostic test to receive FDA approval so far is one that detects HIV. No salivary diagnostic tests have received FDA approval yet for evaluating the risk of dental conditions.
4. The ADA recently approved changes to the CDT Code that address saliva testing. These changes, which will go into effect in 2026, include a new code for point-of-care saliva testing and amendments to two existing codes.