Saliva: Liquid Magic

This course details the salutary effects of saliva on oral health. Flashbacks to basic biomedical sciences will set the stage for a practical understanding of this most intriguing body fluid and its relevance to clinical dentistry. The course navigates through the physiology of salivary function, discusses the functional components of saliva, presents the clinical consequences of hyposalivation, and offers strategies to reestablish health.

Saliva plays a critical role in health and disease. Its components bestow a broad range of benefits that can be categorized either as protective or as food- and speech-related functions. In addition, saliva is an ideal fluid for the diagnosis of a range of local and systemic conditions. This course provides a comprehensive look into the wonders of a body fluid we often take for granted and proposes diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies to deal with the consequences of hyposalivation.