Psoriasis is the most common inflammatory skin disease, characterized by the release of proinflammatory cytokines from lymphocytes, keratinocytes, and dendritic cells. Although psoriasis is considered an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, its effect on secretory activity of salivary glands and quantitative composition of saliva is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the secretion of saliva as well as several selected inflammation and nitrosative stress biomarkers in unstimulated and stimulated saliva as well as plasma of psoriasis patients. We demonstrated that, with progressing severity and duration of the disease, the secretory function of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands is lost, which is manifested as decreased unstimulated and stimulated saliva secretion and reduced salivary amylase activity and total protein concentration. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) were significantly higher, whereas interleukin-10 (IL-10) content was considerably lower in unstimulated and stimulated saliva of patients with psoriasis compared to the controls, and the changes increased with the disease duration. Similarly, we observed that the intensity of nitrosative stress in the salivary glands of psoriasis patients depended on the duration of the disease. By means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we showed that the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO), nitrotyrosine, and IL-2 concentration in non-stimulated saliva with high sensitivity and specificity differentiated psoriasis patients on the basis of the rate of saliva secretion (normal salivation vs. hyposalivation). In summary, the dysfunction of salivary glands in psoriasis patients is caused by inflammation and nitrosative stress.

Patient pain is a common problem faced by dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Craniofacial pain may be caused not only by inflammation in the teeth, but also various oral, facial, and nerve-related diseases, as well as tumors. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) constitute the basis of the analgesic ladder. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NSAIDs are the first-line drugs in relieving pain and inflammation of oral conditions. NSAIDs have been used in almost every field of dentistry. These drugs are applied in conservative dentistry and endodontics, dental surgery, orthodontics, periodontology, and oral mucosal diseases, as well as head and neck oncology. Some of the NSAIDs exhibit additional therapeutic effects, such as inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and reduction of oxidative stress or leukocyte passage to the site of inflammation, which further reduces inflammation in tissues. The topical use of NSAIDs in dentistry is worthy of attention and further research as it will significantly reduce the adverse effects of systemic administration. This article aims to review the preclinical and clinical studies that have supported the role of NSAIDs in dentistry.