Saliva Testing
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Both gingivitis and advanced periodontal disease must be treated to preserve the health of your mouth — and your body. To fully understand the extent of disease progression even before physical symptoms become noticeable, our team has received training on using a specialized saliva diagnostic testing device, bacterial microscopic analysis and associated oral microbiome laboratory analyses. But before we explain more about the process, let’s look at the causes of periodontal disease and why it should be important to you to get screened.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease has many different causes including:
- Pathogenic bacteria
- The mouth being too acidic
- Sleep apnea
- Poor breathing
What Are the Effects of Periodontal Disease?
Besides causing tooth loss, periodontal disease plays a part in the development of many other conditions. With periodontal disease, you are at a higher risk of developing these chronic and life-threatening diseases:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Unmanageable diabetes
Periodontal disease can also contribute to:
- Chronic pain symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
How is Periodontal Disease Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose periodontal disease, we will start with a thorough consultation that helps us understand our patient’s past and present medical history. We will then perform a microbial assessment using the Oral DNA test or our phase-contrast microscope. Periodontal disease is often painless, so patients are not aware that they have it. Standard x-rays and in clinic exams are not enough to diagnose periodontal disease, so it is crucial that you receive a thorough medical-dental evaluation from an experienced dental professional.
Getting an Early Diagnosis to Prevent Damage and Poor Health
Microbiome periodontal testing is an innovative and important method of early detection of gum disease. Identifying oral health issues as early as possible can lead to better overall health outcomes and prevent the development of serious diseases. If left untreated, patients can have an increased risk of periodontal disease, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and even birth complications. The results of these screenings will also help you learn if you have the high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) present that are linked to oral cancer.
Microbiome Saliva Testing: a Simple Way to Keep Your Smile (and the Rest of Your Body) Healthy
A healthy oral environment is truly the key to better health everywhere in your body. By treating pathogenic bacteria present in your mouth before they start damaging gum tissue, you can also give yourself the gift of better overall health. Some oral bacteria are precursors to widespread inflammatory processes that can promote the development or progression of serious health conditions.
Additionally, using the SillHa Oral Wellness System, we look at specific components of the saliva, such as cariogenic bacteria levels, oral saliva PH, buffer capacity, bleeding, leukocytes, protein levels, and ammonia levels to get a clear picture of your oral health and get to the root cause of why your teeth and gums are breaking down. Our state-of-the-art, noninvasive microbiome saliva testing technology can help you stop these bacteria in their tracks, saving your smile — and perhaps even your life! Contact our office and make an appointment for your screening today or for your second opinion to avoid gum surgery, tooth extractions and root canals.
