Dentists know that a mouth examination can reveal issues in other parts of the patient’s body. Because many diseases manifest in soft tissues of the mouth or cause pain in the jaw, dentists often refer patients to their medical doctor for further diagnosis when they encounter issues such as inflammation, chronic bad breath, bleeding gums, or jaw pain.
Healthcare providers may soon have another oral diagnostic tool for discovering systemic diseases—a test that evaluates the molecules in saliva.
“UCLA researchers are working on a test that could have the ability to diagnose diseases like diabetes and cancer. It’s conceivable that dentists will soon be able to take saliva samples that can be tested for numerous diseases. And if that happens, disease diagnosis will be much simpler for all parties.”1
At David A. Rice, DDS, Dr. David Rice helps patients maintain proper oral health and beautiful smiles with advanced cosmetic dentistry. We understand how the state of your dental health impacts the rest of your body. You can think of Dr. Rice as an indispensable member of your healthcare team who is dedicated to your overall health and well-being.
If you are in need of dental care, we invite you to schedule an examination and cleaning by calling David A. Rice, DDS. Some of our most popular treatments at David A. Rice, DDS include sedation dentistry, dentures, and porcelain veneers. We also do oral cancer screening.
http://dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/10711-saliva-test-may-uncover-deadly-diseases
Contact David A. Rice, DDS:
847-741-2353
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1972 Larkin Ave #1
Elgin, IL
60123