Biofilm DNA Testing at Dr. Elston Wong Dentistry
Biofilm DNA Testing
Do you feel self-conscious about breath odor, or experience a bad taste in your mouth? Do your gums bleed during brushing or flossing? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, then Biofilm DNA testing may be for you! With the help of our dental hygiene team, we can get to the “root” cause of these symptoms for you.
Research has shown that the mouth is a portal to the rest of the body, showing clear links between periodontal disease and many chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The population of gum bacteria can become too difficult for conventional hygiene measures to manage. In those cases, we can employ Biofilm DNA testing to identify which bacterial species exist in your mouth, allowing us to manage them with more specificity! This moves us beyond empirical treatment and into the realm of precision medicine.
Fast facts
Gum disease can remain painless for years. Like high blood pressure - you have to test for it to know if you have it.
Tooth loosening or loss happens only in severe cases. At that point it’s often too late to do anything for those teeth.
With routine checkups, we can detect gum disease early, where treatment is simpler, more effective, and less costly.
The bacteria responsible for gum disease can influence less-harmful bacteria to become more damaging.
The process
Step One
When we suspect that there is gum disease that cannot be addressed by conventional means, we collect a sample of the biofilm from the gums and the tongue/lips. This is a quick and painless process, and the sample is sent to OraVital labs for analysis.
Step Two
When the results come back, we discuss the findings of pathogenic microbe levels. These known bad actors are difficult to eliminate once established. We create a treatment plan (typically 6+ months) including 3 sessions of intensive cleaning and irrigating.
Step Three
We employ Guided Biofilm Therapy, deep under-the-gums irrigation along with a home program to change the ecosystem of bacteria in your mouth. at the end of the treatment plan, we reevaluate to ensure that the clinical signs of disease are absent.
Let the results speak for themselves
Looking for real life transformations? Take a look at some before and after examples.
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Biofilm DNA Testing FAQs
Who is Biofilm DNA Testing for?
The majority of patients for whom we test are adults who have more bleeding on a routine gum exam than can be explained by regular plaque levels. A mouth with low plaque levels should not have bleeding gums on probing! The biofilm testing usually explains why.
How long does Biofilm DNA Testing take?
Just a few minutes! Often biofilm sampling and collection of other relevant health information takes just under 10 minutes. We use some dedicated sampling tools to collect the plaque, and send it off for testing.
Am I a candidate for Biofilm DNA Testing?
If there is unexplained bleeding or unexplained bad breath, this may be due to species of bacteria that are known to be troublemakers. Once we know what bacteria / fungi are present, we can then target them specifically.
Will Biofilm DNA Testing hurt?
Absolutely not. It is a quick, non-invasive process of collecting plaque samples from around the gums, tongue, and other places where bacteria hang out in your mouth.
