For decades, we’ve understood that periodontal disease is bacterial in origin, yet many of our treatment strategies remained nonspecific. We scaled, we cleaned, we hoped for the best. OralDNA® testing changed that for us – it brought specificity, clarity, and purpose to our protocols.
At our practice, every periodontal patient and every medically high-risk patient receives an OralDNA® MyPerioPath as a baseline test. This includes individuals with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or autoimmune conditions – those for whom chronic inflammation is already a significant health burden. From the bacterial profile we obtain, we customize treatment plans that include localized antimicrobial therapies, host modulation with systemic agents, salivary probiotics, and adjunctive home care protocols.
Then, at the 12-week mark, we retest. This isn’t about box-checking or sales metrics – it’s about accountability. We want to know if what we prescribed worked. We want the patient to see it too. Measurable, objective reduction in pathogen load changes the conversation in our operatory.
The result? Patients don’t just receive care – they engage in it. They invest when they see the science behind the strategy. One patient told us after her results review, “This has taught me that my health is important – and I need to treat it that way.” Another, a man in his mid-50s, bought a mechanical brush and called it a game changer. He even convinced his mother – living in another state – to get tested too.
These aren’t isolated cases. We’ve seen patients lose weight, join gyms, ask smarter questions, and refer family members. It has changed the energy in our operatories. Our language has evolved. Our team is more aligned. Most importantly, our patients are moving from passive to empowered.
This is precision dentistry at its finest. We aren’t just preserving smiles; we’re identifying sources of chronic inflammation early and giving patients real data to drive real change. When patients are educated about their oral pathogens and the systemic risk they pose, they begin to value the role of prevention and precision. Professionally, OralDNA® has elevated our standard of care. Personally, it’s reignited our sense of purpose. We’re no longer guessing – we’re measuring. We’re no longer just treating teeth – we’re transforming lives.
If you’re on the fence, consider this: OralDNA® doesn’t just add to your protocol – it redefines it. It sharpens your clinical decision-making, it deepens your patient relationships, and it expands your role from hygienist to health advocate.
