DNA testing for Periodontal disease: Am I Going To Lose My Teeth Just Like My Mother?
My mother lost her teeth at an early age.
Am I going to lose my teeth and need dentures too?
Years ago this may have been the case, but I’ve seen good hygiene and routine dental care do remarkable things in helping people keep their natural teeth over the years I’ve been practicing dentistry. There are some people, however, that no matter how hard they work at their home care, they can’t get quite as healthy as they would like.
There is new technology that allows us to test our patients for genetic predisposition for Periodontal Disease. The risk for periodontal disease increases 3 to 7-fold and for tooth loss 3-fold in individuals who test positive for these new tests. Early detection of patients at increased risk facilitates prevention and early intervention efforts. For those patients already affected with periodontal disease, the PST Genetic Test assists clinicians in creating a personalized treatment plan.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), an estimated 75% of all Americans over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal disease. It’s a known fact that periodontal disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal Disease, or gum disease, is a common condition that varies in severity from person to person and usually starts when people are in their 30’s or 40’s. Symptoms may include:
Red, swollen, tender gums; receding gums; bleeding while brushing and/or flossing, loose or separating teeth, persistent bad breath, dentures that no longer fit, pus between the teeth and gums.
Are you at risk? When might we suggest DNA testing for you?
When you have early signs of periodontal disease, despite a fairly good effort with your home care.
You’re considering cosmetic or advanced restorative dentistry, such as veneers or implants and we want to know that we don’t have any factors “working against us” as we perform treatment.
A new patient or someone who hasn’t seen us in a while and needs a lot of dentistry to get healthy again, and they tell us of a family history of periodontal disease, diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
Clinical signs of infection (red, swollen, or bleeding gums with bone loss around teeth and periodontal pockets) are around important teeth that we critically need to save to keep our patient from having to get a denture.
Have a family history of periodontal disease? Need extensive periodontal care? Have loose teeth? Lost teeth?
Confirmation of your oral health is needed prior to major medical surgery.
You have other medical / systemic conditions that make you more susceptible to periodontal infections.
A screening tool to access your periodontal health and genetic risk to oral infections.
Do you have chronic bad breath even though you’ve done everything we’ve shown you to manage the problem?
WHAT ARE THE TESTS?
MyPerioPath Test: Identifies and measures certain bacteria that can cause gingivitis and periodontitis.
MyPerioIDPST test: Determines if you are likely to be more susceptible to gum tissue infections.
These revolutionary tests deliver detailed information that will enable us to better determine the appropriate treatment regimen for your specific needs. The testing procedures are quick, non-invasive, simple and easy to perform.
If both tests are done, the total cost is around $300, plus the cost of any antibiotics (from the pharmacy) possibly needed for treatment.
Dentistry continues to make some amazing strides in that it’s providing people the opportunity at having enhanced overall health. As I’ve said frequently lately, I’ve been in dentistry for over 30 years, and there’s not been a more exciting time that right now for all the things that dentistry can offer my patients. Whether it’s sedation for the fearful patient, implants for those that have missing teeth or dentures and can’t really chew their food, or DNA testing for those who REALLY want to keep their teeth, I’m thankful for the profession I’m in being so interesting and fun the last few years.
My mother lost her teeth at an early age.
Am I going to lose my teeth and need dentures too?
Years ago this may have been the case, but I’ve seen good hygiene and routine dental care do remarkable things in helping people keep their natural teeth over the years I’ve been practicing dentistry. There are some people, however, that no matter how hard they work at their home care, they can’t get quite as healthy as they would like.
There is new technology that allows us to test our patients for genetic predisposition for Periodontal Disease. The risk for periodontal disease increases 3 to 7-fold and for tooth loss 3-fold in individuals who test positive for these new tests. Early detection of patients at increased risk facilitates prevention and early intervention efforts. For those patients already affected with periodontal disease, the PST Genetic Test assists clinicians in creating a personalized treatment plan.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), an estimated 75% of all Americans over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal disease. It’s a known fact that periodontal disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal Disease, or gum disease, is a common condition that varies in severity from person to person and usually starts when people are in their 30’s or 40’s. Symptoms may include:
Red, swollen, tender gums; receding gums; bleeding while brushing and/or flossing, loose or separating teeth, persistent bad breath, dentures that no longer fit, pus between the teeth and gums.
Are you at risk? When might we suggest DNA testing for you?
When you have early signs of periodontal disease, despite a fairly good effort with your home care.
You’re considering cosmetic or advanced restorative dentistry, such as veneers or implants and we want to know that we don’t have any factors “working against us” as we perform treatment.
A new patient or someone who hasn’t seen us in a while and needs a lot of dentistry to get healthy again, and they tell us of a family history of periodontal disease, diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
Clinical signs of infection (red, swollen, or bleeding gums with bone loss around teeth and periodontal pockets) are around important teeth that we critically need to save to keep our patient from having to get a denture.
Have a family history of periodontal disease? Need extensive periodontal care? Have loose teeth? Lost teeth?
Confirmation of your oral health is needed prior to major medical surgery.
You have other medical / systemic conditions that make you more susceptible to periodontal infections.
A screening tool to access your periodontal health and genetic risk to oral infections.
Do you have chronic bad breath even though you’ve done everything we’ve shown you to manage the problem?
WHAT ARE THE TESTS?
MyPerioPath Test: Identifies and measures certain bacteria that can cause gingivitis and periodontitis.
MyPerioIDPST test: Determines if you are likely to be more susceptible to gum tissue infections.
These revolutionary tests deliver detailed information that will enable us to better determine the appropriate treatment regimen for your specific needs. The testing procedures are quick, non-invasive, simple and easy to perform.
If both tests are done, the total cost is around $300, plus the cost of any antibiotics (from the pharmacy) possibly needed for treatment.
Dentistry continues to make some amazing strides in that it’s providing people the opportunity at having enhanced overall health. As I’ve said frequently lately, I’ve been in dentistry for over 30 years, and there’s not been a more exciting time that right now for all the things that dentistry can offer my patients. Whether it’s sedation for the fearful patient, implants for those that have missing teeth or dentures and can’t really chew their food, or DNA testing for those who REALLY want to keep their teeth, I’m thankful for the profession I’m in being so interesting and fun the last few years.
