Salivary Diagnostics and Oral DNA

Dr. Steven Acker is Now Offering Two Salivary DNA Tests to Fight Gum Diseases!

Using DNA for healthy smiles…

One of the most significant advances in dental medicine, a simple DNA test, can now determine the specific type and quantity of disease-causing bacteria in your mouth! These bacteria, if left untreated can cause periodontal disease, tooth loss, and also affect your risk for developing other systemic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes among others).

This exciting new test is for anyone with symptoms of gingivitis or periodontal disease. These symptoms include: bleeding gums, bad breath, red or inflamed gums or loss of bone around your teeth. Other indications for this test would be prior to extensive dental procedures and in some cases, surgical clearance (such as heart surgery or joint replacements).

This gentle oral rinse procedure is performed by swishing a small amount of sterile saline throughout the mouth and can be done in about 30 seconds. The sample is then sent to OralDNA Labs, Increase. (www.OralDNA.com) for processing.

The lab report that we get back will identify the bacteria associated with the gum infection and allow us to develop a far more powerful and effective treatment plan. Through this state-of-the-art technology, we are now able to treat the cause of the infection and not just the symptoms. The goal of therapy then becomes to reduce your overall bacterial risk for disease progression. As with most disease, earlier treatment and targeted treatment can help stop periodontal disease before irreversible damage occurs.

In addition to the bacterial DNA test, we can also offer you a genetic susceptibility test that will tell us if your genetic makeup puts you at greater risk for developing gum tissue infections (due to an exaggerated immune response). This will further enable us to optimize our therapy and recare program.

If you or a loved one is in need of either of these tests, please call for more information. It is our mission to offer you the most cutting edge, comprehensive oral-systemic healthcare available.

The Anatomy of an Opportunity

By Allison M. DiMatteo, BA, MPS

Scientific advances in biomarker research have led dentistry and medicine to consider saliva a viable diagnostic medium. The intricate composition of this body fluid, combined with emerging science designed to exploit its inherent capabilities, could potentially change dental practice, patient care, and usher in an age of individualized treatment protocol.

Part folklore and part scientific documentation, the history of saliva’s use as a tell-tale indicator of what’s taking place within the human body dates back centuries. In ancient China, an inability to swallow a handful of rice whole was a sign of guilt, since if an individual was nervous (as a result of lying, for example) and their salivary secretions dried up, they would be prohibited from making a food bolus. In the early 20th century, cytochemical tests of saliva were used to study such conditions as gout and rheumatism.

Much of the early work conducted in the saliva diagnostics field related more to an assessment of better understanding the composition of saliva and its function at the patient level in terms of supporting the ability to speak, lubricate, masticate, and function, as well as its effects on quality of life, explains William Giannobile, DDS, DMed.Sc,the Najjar Professor of Dentistry and Director of the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Within the field itself, what has really greatly benefited saliva diagnostics research has been the support and investment by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), that enabled a merging of many earlier technological advances in engineering and chemistry for the examination of the many properties of saliva, he says.

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Crowns and Bridges

Proper function of speaking, eating and drinking are often compromised when you suffer from tooth loss and this can have a number of negative effects on your health. Luckily modern dentistry provides a range of options for replacing missing teeth, from traditional dentures to dental crowns and bridges. Replacing missing teeth is important to your general health and helps maintain good oral hygiene. Dental crowns and Dental bridges are the most effective way of restoring damaged teeth.

If you have spaces in your mouth due to a missing tooth or teeth you can be a candidate for Dental bridge work. Bridges are custom made to fill in the space with a false tooth or teeth. The false tooth is then attached by the bridge to the two other teeth in the surrounding space, bridging them together. The main advantage of having dental bridge work is that bridges look natural, and usually require only two visits to your dentist. If spaces from missing teeth are left untreated, they can cause your teeth and gums to become increasingly susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. If you maintain good oral hygiene, your bridges should last as many as ten years or more.

As we get older, many of us find ourselves with teeth that are no longer structurally sound. When the entire surface of your tooth is the problem, but the root system is still intact, a crown might be a viable treatment option. Dental crowns cover the entire outer surface of your affected tooth and add durability, strength, and stability to the tooth. The dentist will make an impression of your affected tooth and then create a specific dental crown. The main advantage of having a porcelain crown is that they are most aesthetically pleasing and match your surrounding teeth. If you require restorative dentistry, speak to your dentist about the best options for your specific oral situation.

TMJ Treatment Can Effectively Alleviate Your Pain

Migraines are often an intolerable experience and if you are a victim to their trauma on a frequent and long lasting basis, with symptomatic headaches and tension headaches, you may have a condition known as TMJ syndrome. Other frequent TMJ symptoms experienced in suffers of TMJ syndrome are ear, jaw and facial pain as well as a decreased sense of hearing. Popping or clicking of the neck, jaw and shoulder pain are all common symptoms of TMJ disorder.

Even though TMJ is a widespread disorder many people are unaware that they have TMJ dysfunction and continue enduring the pain without the effective treatment that is available.

There are numerous causes of TMJ pain, majority of cases resulting from a grinding of teeth, an incorrect bite and malocclusion. Malocclusion is when your upper and lower teeth do not close together in the right way and are misaligned, ultimately causing trauma.

Luckily there is a TMJ treatment for headaches caused by TMJ syndrome that will remove the symptoms permanently. The TMJ treatment involves patents having a bite assessment, identifying the ideal bite and achieving the ideal bite with orthotic therapy. Orthotic therapy requires you to wear an unobtrusive oral TMJ splint throughout the day and night.
The TMJ splint is made to copy your natural teeth and will not hinder functionality.

TMJ treatment is an effective headache cure and most people find their symptoms are gone instantaneously. Every person responds differently to orthotic therapy, however the majority will experience an improvement in their TMJ symptoms. To banish those intolerable tension headaches, or more severe migraines caused by TMJ syndrome, it is worth looking into a TMJ treatment and consulting a dental practitioner who may be able to help.