Testing for Gum Disease
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Testing for gum disease.
Traditional dentistry treats gum disease first with scaling and root planing. This is done once there is evidence of bone loss around your teeth. This is a reactive process. Why wait until there is bone damage when we can detect the presence of bacteria and remove it?
Today, we have the technology to use a sample of your saliva to test for the bacteria most associated with gum disease. The test identifies specific bacteria and how much of it you have. This information can guide us in using specific antibiotics that target the bacteria causing your infection. The goal is the kill the bacteria before they cause bone loss. Without bone loss, it will not be necessary to have traditional scaling and root planing treatment.
We know that gum disease is often associated with other diseases like diabetes and heart disease. It has also been linked to pregnant women with low birth weigh babies.
Treating gum disease early can be very important for maintaining oral health and overall general health.