Indices of oral hygiene level and periodontal status (dental plaque index, gingival index and periodontal pockets' depth) were significantly worsened in patients with diabetes. Negative influence on remained teeth had patients' age (> 50 years), duration of diabetes (> 20 years) and bad oral hygiene. About half of the patients had a total or partial bridge suggesting that periodontitis is significant complication of diabetes mellitus.

Saliva is a secretion of the salivary and mucous glands and is of major importance in the maintainance of oral health. Over the last few decades, saliva has been evaluated as a diagnostic fluid in medicine for determining systemic disease markers as well as for monitoring numerous drugs, narcotics, and hormones. The biochemical analysis of saliva is particularly important in dentistry. The estimation of the risk of appearance and diagnosis of disease, monitoring of disease progression, evaluation of therapy efficacy for caries, periodontitis, premalignant and malignant oral lesions, as well as infectious diseases of the oral cavity, can be assessed by analysing different constituents of saliva. Individuals at risk of caries can be identified using tests that determine saliva flow rate, saliva buffer capacity, and colonisation of the oral cavity by cariogenic bacteria. Today, these rapid and simple diagnostic tests are used routinely in caries risk determination. The study and use of saliva-based diagnostics have increased over the last few decades. Clinical testing of saliva shows much promise. However, there is a need for much additional research in this area, before the true clinical value of saliva as a diagnostic fluid in dentistry can be determined.

Introduction: Diabetic patients, beside numerous acute and chronic complications, often have oral manifestations of the disease. Aim: The aim of the study was to establish changes in saliva of diabetic patients in relation to healthy population in order to use saliva in the disease monitoring, as well as the changes depending on the type of diabetes. Materials and methods: The study comprised 52 adult patients of both sexes and at the age between 18 and 79 with Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 who were treated at the Institute for endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic disorders of the Clinical center of Serbia. The control group consisted of 67 volunteers from Belgrade, students at the School of Dentistry, aged between 19 and 24. The whole of unstimulated and stimulated saliva was collected and biochemical parameters (glucose, total proteins, albumin, sodium and potassium) were determined by methods commonly used for serum. Results: The results showed that salivary potassium level was increased in saliva of diabetic patients, that of sodium and total proteins was decreased, and glucose and albumin did not show changes compared to the control group. Concentrations of total proteins and potassium were higher in patients with DM type 2, and sodium was higher in DM type 1 (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Diabetic patients often have changes in biochemical composition of saliva

The purpose of this work was to present chemical structure and basic characteristics of some active substances in medical plants which are used in stomatology. Considering their chemical content and pharmacological effects, all active substances of herbal origin are divided in four groups tannins, flavonoids, aetheric oils and the group of herbal species which show immunostimulating effect. Tannins are active substances of medical plants whose function are primarily based on precipitation of proteins and are used for disinfection of skin and oral mucose as well as for haemostatic purposes. Flavonoids are herbal pigments. They work as diuretics, and in dentistry they could be used as antiinflammatory agents. Essential oils are part of herbal species and are used as korigens of taste and smell. For their antiseptic and disinfective effects, essential oils are used in dentistry as preparations like toothpastes, mouth wash and chewing-gums. Immunostimulators of herbal origin are especially interesting in the decreasing immunity treatment for their slight toxic characteristics