title: Saliva in forensic odontology: A comprehensive update.
abstract: In recent years, saliva has attracted much interest among researchers especially in the field of forensic sciences. This complex body fluid is gaining popularity due to its ease of collection, safety in handling and its close relationship with plasma. Analysis of saliva for serological testing and cellular content has proved to be of wide use in crime detection, drug and alcohol abuse, hormone identification, cases of poisoning and animal bites. There is a need for forensic laboratories to automate the settings specific for saliva as routinely done for blood or urine in order to consider saliva as the primary investigating tool in the absence of other body fluids. This update is aimed at highlighting the many uses of saliva in the practice of forensic odontology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, ESIC Dental College and Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Susmita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ITS Dental College and Research Centre, Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Forensic odontology; investigating tool; saliva