Treatment
Saliva Testing
A test that identifies which bacteria are in your mouth, so gum treatment is aimed at what you actually have.
A sample of saliva analyzed for the specific bacteria associated with gum disease, and in some cases for markers linked to your risk of it progressing.
You provide a saliva sample here in the office, it goes to a lab, and the results come back naming which organisms are present and in what quantity.
Two people with the same gum measurements can have very different bacteria driving the problem. Knowing which you have changes how aggressively it needs treating.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about saliva testing.
Anyone with gum disease that keeps returning after treatment, a family history of losing teeth to it, or a systemic condition like diabetes or heart disease.
You rinse and spit into a vial. That is the whole procedure. It is one of the very few things we do that involves no instruments at all.
About two minutes to collect. Lab results typically come back within one to two weeks, and we go through them with you rather than mailing a report.
Coverage varies and many plans do not pay for it, so ask Linda first. It is most useful when gum treatment has already been tried and has not held.
Nothing to recover from. What follows is a conversation about what the results mean for how often you should be seen and what treatment makes sense.
Come and see us
We would love to meet you
Call the office or ask for a time online. We will come back to you within a business day, and tell you what it costs first.