Tariq Drabu Excited About Dental Saliva Testing to Identify Disease in 2014

Tariq Drabu said "I am excited to find out that there may be a saliva test in the future which will give dentists the ability to identify diseases in the early stages."

Tariq Drabu is a Manchester born and educated dentist and specialist oral surgeon. He is one of the youngest dentists to ever graduate in the United Kingdom. He then went on to work in some of the busiest dental hospitals in the UK and Saudi Arabia. On his return to the UK, Dr Drabu received his Fellowship in Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is now the owner of the successful Langley Dental Practice and is also the Clinical Lead Dentist for the Oral Surgery Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (CATS) at NHS Heywood Middleton and Rochdale. Dr Drabu also finds time in his busy schedule to tutor and mentor postgraduate dentists in oral surgery at the UCLAN Dental Clinic in Preston.

Tariq Drabu was speaking about an article published on 7 November 2014 on a leading dental website. The full article can be read on Dental-Tribune.

Tariq Drabu said “Research conducted in Los Angeles in the United States has identified that a simple saliva test could help identify dental and other diseases in their early stages. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has tested that testing in a dental surgery could diagnosed illnesses including diabetes and cancers.”

Tariq Drabu in Manchester went on to say “UCLA School of Dentistry has been researching this possible testing method for over ten years. They have analysed millions of genetic sequences and found that saliva contains RNA’s. RNA’s are bio markers for certain diseases. Saliva has the same identifying markets as blood, so it makes sense that simple saliva tests carried out in a dental surgery could catch disease early and ensure quick and effective treatment.”

Tariq Drabu closed in saying “Two of the diseases expected to be identifiable through the saliva test includes Type 2 diabetes and gastric cancer. In many cases patients are not aware they have the disease and will visit their dentist for their regular check-up or because they have pain caused by a tooth, this is an opportunity to carry out the saliva test and see if the patient requires any treatments. It can be such a useful tool in the future ensuring these diseases are caught and treated as early as possible.”