SALIVARY DIAGNOSTICS

Options for Gum Disease Treatment

Do you have periodontal disease that is not responding to traditional therapies such as scaling and root planing (SRP)?  Just as you might be tested for any other type of infection, we can test for the specific type of bacteria that is causing your periodontal infection.  Once we know the predominant type(s) of bacteria, we can target the infection directly with the proper antibiotics in conjunction with mechanical disinfection through SRP.

How We Test

At our office, we use clinical laboratory services from OralDNA Labs^® to ensure we are giving our patients the best oral health information possible. OralDNA Labs^® is a specialty diagnostics company designed to provide reliable, definitive, and cost-effective clinical tests. The test is a simple saliva test that is sent and processed at OralDNA Labs.  The results guide us in treating periodontal disease more effectively by allowing us to prescribe specific antibiotics to treat the specific bacteria causing your periodontal infection.  This treatment works in conjunction with mechanical disinfection of the mouth (SRP).  We treat the periodontal infection from two fronts; both systemically and locally.  Click here to see a sample of a diagnostic report.

Periodontal Disease & How it Affects the Rest of the Body

The consequences of oral bacteria and periodontal (gum) disease go far beyond the mouth.  Oral bacteria, especially at high levels, in combination with an individual’s genetic inflammatory response, result in bad breath, bleeding gums, loss of bone, and eventual tooth loss.  The same bacteria, present for years and decades, add significantly to the risk of a wide range of life-threatening diseases beyond the mouth including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, joint and musculoskeletal disorders, dementia and brain disorders, and the development of cancer. 

We also offer a variety of tests including diagnostics for Candida (fungal infections), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).