Saliva analysis prevents caries

With an improved – simple and painless – saliva test, a dentist can determine the risk of a patient developing caries before any damage occurs to the tooth

Isn’t that a “waste” of money? How can we motivate patients to invest in something invisible? How many people are even aware of the improved new diagnostic tests that determine the risk of caries? Why are people reluctant to go for a systematic check-up at the dentist? Is it fear, ignorance?

We sought answers in the dental office of Dr. Marcela Perić, author of the recently published booklet “Oral Health for Your Health”, which provides basic knowledge about the health of teeth and the oral cavity. Because, she says, the foundation of every good prevention is health education – motivating and teaching people to learn as much as possible about ways in which they can help themselves not to get caries and periodontal diseases. This means less pain, preventing the development of large caries and thus tooth loss. Ultimately, this is also a great financial loss because, if the health of the teeth is preserved, expensive prosthetic replacements are not needed.

Unfortunately, very few people in our country go for regular check-ups because they think that dentists exist only to extract painful teeth and repair them, and because they are convinced that caries is hereditary. On the other hand, if we regularly visited the dentist, went for diagnostic tests, and listened to the advice of our dentist, we would have twenty-year-olds with undecayed teeth.

Recently, dental prevention has been supplemented with an improved diagnostic caries test. It cannot replace a clinical check-up, but it supplements it, because without much effort, everything in the mouth that is invisible to the naked eye can be seen. It can be used to identify the risk of caries very early, that is, when the damage has not yet occurred. But in practice, it is “very early” in our country only when the beginning of caries is already established, a white chalky stain, and then the tooth is already damaged. That is precisely why tests should be done during mandatory check-ups.

Unfortunately, many people do not believe in such tests, and they also wonder how much they will cost. Moreover, some believe that they do not need them at all. This is a completely wrong belief because the test is very simple and painless and very useful in preventing dental and oral diseases.

How is it performed

The test consists of two parts: measuring the protective capacity of saliva and measuring the amount of streptococci and lactobacilli bacteria, which are responsible for tooth decay. Both the protective capacity and the number of bacteria are analyzed after the patient has stimulated the salivary glands by chewing a special wax and spitting the saliva into a container. Then, the saliva is applied with a dropper to a special reagent and after five minutes, the patient is given a reading of the result, the protective capacity of the saliva. The test can show three values: excellent protection, good and insufficient.

Bacteria are measured in the same way: saliva is applied with a dropper to certain reagents, and the results are read after 48 hours. If the amount of bacteria is 10 per 5 (CPU/ml) or more, the risk of tooth decay is very high.

The test should be mandatory for pregnant women, people with receding gums, children, especially those who wear orthodontic appliances, people with diabetes and anyone else who wants to improve their oral health.

The caries risk test provides the opportunity to create and implement a preventive program for each patient, which means a real gain for oral health and the fight against caries and periodontal diseases.

After the test

The tests are very practical because the patient sees his own result, which motivates him to take preventive therapy, after which the test results can be significantly improved.

Prevention uses procedures based on clinical trials of the tests, and were developed at the University of Jena, Erfust. For example, a very high number of streptococci will be reduced by a special tooth polish, and a very high number of lactobacilli, which are most often found in children and adolescents, requires fissure sealing.

In fact, every preventive treatment begins with a mandatory check-up, plaque control, patient motivation and advice on proper hygiene, nutrition, and in young people, necessary orthodontic therapy, protection of tooth necks and other measures.

It is very important that the patient adopts some hygiene and dietary habits and regularly goes for check-ups with their dentist.