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Emerging Horizons of Salivary Diagnostics for Oral-Systemic Disease Prevention and Management

Periodontal and Biofilm Diseases of the Mouth

Presented by: David Vigerust, MS, PhD

Original Publication Date: July 11, 2025

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Course Description:

Unlock the next frontier in preventive and precision dentistry. This one-hour webinar explores how high-throughput salivary diagnostics—powered by multi-omics platforms such as SomaLogic and Olink, advanced qPCR panels, and AI-driven analytics—are transforming the early detection and management of oral-systemic diseases. Participants will:

  • Trace the science behind salivary protein, transcriptomic, and microbial biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  • Compare emerging technologies for point-of-care and send-out testing, including lab-on-a-chip microfluidics, targeted multiplex PCR, and aptamer-based proteomics.
  • Review clinical workflows that integrate chairside screening with electronic health records to trigger personalized medical and dental interventions.
  • Assess economic and outcome data demonstrating how proactive salivary testing lowers healthcare costs, improves patient engagement, and strengthens interdisciplinary referral networks.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the role of the oral biofilm in maintaining microbial balance and influencing oral health outcomes.
  • Differentiate between probiotic strains based on their mechanisms of action and clinical applications in dentistry.
  • Implement oral probiotic strategies in patient care to support oral and systemic health.

Practical Applications:

  • Integrate salivary diagnostic testing into routine patient assessments to support early detection of systemic inflammation.
  • Use salivary biomarker results to guide interdisciplinary referrals and collaborative treatment planning.
  • Educate patients on the value of saliva-based testing as a noninvasive tool for monitoring overall health.

About the Speakers:

Dr. David Vigerust is a distinguished molecular biologist, entrepreneur, and biomedical innovator whose career has bridged the worlds of academic science, clinical diagnostics, and biotechnology commercialization. With over two decades of research and leadership experience, Dr. Vigerust is widely recognized for his expertise in molecular pathology, infectious disease, cancer biology, and precision medicine.

Holding a Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Dr. Vigerust has devoted his career to advancing molecular diagnostics that detect and monitor complex diseases. He trained in molecular virology and immunopathology, and his early research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine contributed significantly to the understanding of host-pathogen interactions, respiratory viral immunology, and post-viral complications such as secondary bacterial infections.

He holds a faculty position at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Dental Medicine, where he helps to develop translational research initiatives focused on oral-systemic health, salivary diagnostics, and the molecular epidemiology of periodontal pathogens.

As a scientist-entrepreneur, Dr. Vigerust has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge diagnostic platforms and commercializing them through leadership roles in the biotech industry.

Conflicts of Interest:

CSO of Spectrum Solutions and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board. SAB member of Fight Cancer Global, Proze, PgXAI, and ECG. And he is also a faculty member at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine.