Salivary Diagnostics in the Pediatric Population

Presented by: David Vigerust, MS, PhD

Original Publication Date: January 16, 2026 (Midwinter Virtual Institute 2026)

Course Description:

Saliva is emerging as a powerful, non-invasive diagnostic fluid with particular relevance in pediatric populations, where traditional blood-based testing can be invasive, stressful, and impractical. This lecture explores the clinical utility of salivary diagnostics in children and adolescents, focusing on early detection of dental caries, gingivitis, and emerging periodontal disease, as well as infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and systemic conditions with salivary biomarker signatures. Attendees will be guided through the biological basis of salivary testing, validated microbial and host-response markers, and practical workflows for saliva collection, analysis, and clinical integration in pediatric dental and medical settings. Emphasis is placed on prevention-oriented care, risk stratification, and the role of saliva in advancing precision, oral-systemic pediatric health.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the biological and clinical rationale for using saliva as a diagnostic fluid in pediatric patients, including its advantages over traditional specimen types.
2. Identify key salivary microbial, inflammatory, and host-response biomarkers associated with pediatric caries, gingivitis, early periodontal disease, and selected systemic conditions.
3. Evaluate how salivary diagnostics can be integrated into pediatric dental and interdisciplinary care models to support early detection, prevention, and longitudinal disease monitoring.

Practical Applications:

After attending this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Implement saliva-based screening protocols in pediatric dental practices to stratify caries and gingival disease risk and guide preventive interventions.
2. Incorporate salivary diagnostic results into patient and parent education, improving understanding, compliance, and engagement in preventive care plans.
3. Collaborate more effectively with pediatric medical providers by leveraging salivary biomarker data to support oral-systemic health assessments and referrals.

Method: Lecture

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 430 (Pediatric Dentistry)

AAOSH Core Curriculum Category: Pediatric Health, Airway, Sleep Disorders, & Breathing

Credit Hours: 1

Speaker's Bio:

David Vigerust, MS, PhD, is a molecular immunologist, diagnostics executive, and scientist-entrepreneur whose career bridges academic discovery, clinical laboratories, and biotechnology commercialization. He holds an MS in Microbiology & Immunology and a PhD in Cellular & Molecular Pathology. Trained in molecular virology and immunopathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, his early work advanced understanding of host–pathogen interactions in respiratory viral disease and the mechanisms driving post-viral bacterial complications.

Dr. Vigerust serves on the faculty of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Dental Medicine, where he helps lead translational research in oral–systemic health, salivary diagnostics, and the molecular epidemiology of periodontal pathogens. In industry, he has directed CLIA/CAP laboratory operations and led assay design and validation for laboratory-developed tests across microbial, inflammatory, and genetic biomarker panels. He has served as Chief Scientific Officer for organizations including Spectrum Solutions, Cancer Diagnostics of America, Resolve Forensics, founded Strategic Biosciences, and held executive roles at multiple biotech startup companies.

A TEDx speaker and 2025 Nashville Titan 100 honoree, Dr. Vigerust is known for translating complex molecular data into clear clinical action. His current focus is on integrating salivary and multi-omics signals into precision preventive care—standardizing sample-to-report workflows, embedding results in EHRs and remote monitoring, and generating payer-ready outcomes for value-based models. He partners with DSOs, health systems, and employer-sponsored plans to deploy actionable salivary analytics that improve risk stratification, patient engagement, and longitudinal disease management. Through speaking, publishing, and hands-on implementation, he champions saliva as a keystone diagnostic matrix for early detection and sustained population health impact.

Conflict of Interest: Affiliated with Simply Test, Texas Tech School of Dental Medicine, and Vandabuit University School of Medicine