Dr. Harris, tell me about the Oral DNA test that you offer!

We’re glad you asked! This is a new service that we are providing to patients who have signs of periodontal disease. The test is a saliva test that identifies pathogens or bacteria within the mouth that can be associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some forms of cancer and other diseases. The test only requires a 30 second swish in the office. The sample is then sent to the Oral DNA lab where a report can be created. The second visit in the office is to review the report and discuss results. Sometimes antibiotics are recommended to balance pathogens within the mouth; sometimes other treatments are necessary. The Oral DNA test costs the patient $125. For the same fee, an additional swish can be performed to test for increased risk of HPV virus.