SALIVA/ORAL DNA TESTING
As one of a few dentists offering these saliva diagnostic tests, Dr. Dowsett is proud to be a practitioner partner with FidaLab and OralDNA. Understanding the association between oral health and systemic health provides exciting opportunities today for the dental and medical communities to reframe protocols and initiate cross-referrals. At Complete Health Dentistry of Portland, we pride ourselves on practicing “oral medicine” and focusing on an overall wellness model. We execute a thorough comprehensive oral assessment, head and neck examination, radiographs (when clinically indicated), periodontal probing and carious lesion detection.
In an effort to make a more informed and objective diagnosis of patients with periodontal disease, Dr. Dowsett has incorporated two salivary diagnostic (DNA) tests – MyPerioPath and MyPerioID PST. Armed with this critical information, we are able to provide the best treatment options for patients. As these assessments are being performed, Dr. Dowsett’s team of registered dental hygienists—hygenious’ as we like to say–note any risk factors for oral and systemic diseases the patient presents with and thoroughly explains the correlations to the patients. His team can then organize a profile that includes oral and systemic risk factor findings and discuss how their chronic (reversible) gingivitis or (irreversible) periodontal disease may place them at risk for cardiovascular disease, poor glycemic control, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory complications, stroke, poor nutrition, pre-term delivery and even adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Because of the important correlations between oral and whole-body health, we will gladly conduct a MyPerioPath and/or MyPerioID PST for anyone who may have a systemic health risk or condition such as those stated above as well as salivary diagnostic testing for caries risk (cavities and decay) and human papilloma virus (HPV) testing to help assess risks for oral cancer. Information gained from these two tests allows Dr. Dowsett to care for the individual patient more effectively, which may have a positive influence on whole-body wellness. Test results provide information on the type and concentration of the disease-causing bacteria, a patient specific bacterial-related risk of disease progression and suggestions for suitable therapy. A salivary diagnostic test will identify whether the patient has a genetic predisposition to an over exaggerated response to inflammation, resulting in a greater risk for periodontal disease and systemic inflammation.
