AUTHOR=Iyer Parvati , Chino Takahiro , Ojcius David M. 

TITLE=Infection of the oral cavity with SARS-CoV-2 variants: Scope of salivary diagnostics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oral Health

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2022.1001790

DOI=10.3389/froh.2022.1001790

ISSN=2673-4842

ABSTRACT=<p>Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have caused pandemics in the past two decades. The most prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern can re-infect individuals who have been previously infected with other variants or had protection from vaccines targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 variant. Given the high risk of transmission of coronavirus <italic>via</italic> aerosols produced during dental procedures, it is important to understand the future risk of coronavirus infection for oral health professionals and to diagnose quickly early stages of outbreaks. Testing of saliva for coronavirus may be the least invasive and most convenient method for following the outbreak at the individual and community level. This review will describe strategies for diagnosis of coronavirus in saliva.</p>