Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a serious problem that can result in lost bone, gum tissue, and even lost teeth. Thanks to technological advances in dentistry, many dental offices can now provide oral DNA testing for diagnosis. LA dental practice, Downtown Dental, offers oral DNA testing to, one, determine a person’s genetic predisposition to developing gum disease and two, to determine what specific harmful bacteria that are causing the gum disease. There have been studies that have shown that a person may be more susceptible to periodontal disease thanks to certain bacteria that are found in their mouth. In fact, with oral DNA testing, LA dentist Dr. Mungcal can find out what exact bacterial strain is causing the patient to suffer from gum disease repeatedly. Once this has been determined, the proper steps can be taken to control bacterial counts in order to keep gum disease from reoccurring. Additionally, this same oral testing can help dentists find out if patients are infected with HPV or Human Papilloma Virus, which can be a precursor to oral cancer. When diagnosed, it can be properly and effectively treated appropriately.
Oral DNA testing requires that a patient use a special oral solution rinse that they “swish” in their mouth, and then spit out into a sample cup. This sample is then run through our testing process to determine what kind of oral health issues are causing recurring episodes of periodontal disease. Then, Dr. Mungcal can offer a variety of proven products to help combat these issues and help patients on the road to better oral health. Not every dental practice in the LA area offers this, which makes Downtown Dental stand out from the rest. This special diagnostic tool can save patients time and money from having to undergo several visits to the dentist for periodontal disease that just does not seem to respond to traditional treatment options. Being able to test patients for the HPV virus with the same sample can also allow them to take one more advanced step than any other area dentists.
If you want to learn more about oral DNA testing, call Dr. Mungcal of Downtown Dental today to learn how this simple and effective diagnostic test can save dental bills, time, and energy when it comes to combating periodontal disease. Not everyone offers this special testing, which makes it so important that patients consider dental practices such as Downtown Dental to undergo only the best and most technologically advanced treatments and diagnostic tools.