Wellness & Longevity
Oral-Systemic Health & Wellness
Beyond Your Smile: Oral Health, Inflammation & Longevity
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Wellness & Longevity
Your mouth can reveal more than you think
Your mouth can reveal more about your health than you might think. At Lansdowne Dental Care, we take a whole-body approach to dentistry. We look at how your oral health connects to inflammation, metabolic health, sleep, and long-term wellness. For patients in Lansdowne, Leesburg and across Northern Virginia, we offer salivary testing that assesses the bacteria in your mouth.
Wellness & Longevity
The mouth-body connection
For years, dentistry focused mainly on teeth. Today, we understand that the mouth is closely connected to the rest of the body. Your overall health is connected to the bacteria that live in your mouth, the health of your gums, and the way your body responds to inflammation.
Periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with several systemic health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These relationships are complex, and an association doesn’t mean one condition directly causes another. Maintaining periodontal health is an important part of comprehensive preventive care.
That’s why we see dentistry as part of a longevity-focused approach to health. Taking care of your mouth is one of the ways you take care of your whole body.
Wellness & Longevity
Inflammation and your oral health
Inflammation is part of how the body protects and heals itself. But when it lingers at a low level for months or years, it can quietly wear on the body. Chronic inflammation is associated with many of the conditions people most want to avoid as they age.
The mouth is one place where chronic inflammation can start and persist without obvious symptoms. Gums can be inflamed without hurting, and harmful bacteria can thrive below the gumline long before you notice bleeding or loose teeth. Identifying and treating gum disease supports your oral health and can be one part of a broader preventive-health plan with your physician. Sleep matters too. Poor sleep and untreated sleep apnea are associated with metabolic and heart health concerns, which is why we look at breathing and sleep as part of your wellness, not separately from it. Oftentimes, Dr. Tracey can learn a lot about your sleep habits just by looking at your mouth.
Your Mouth Reveals
More Than You Think
Wellness & Longevity
What is salivary testing?
Salivary testing uses a simple saliva sample to identify the bacteria in your mouth, both the harmful types and the beneficial ones. At Lansdowne Dental Care, we use OraPath, and samples are analyzed in an accredited laboratory.
Depending on the tests your care team recommends, salivary testing can help us identify hidden bacteria linked to gum disease that can’t be seen during a regular exam. It also shows the balance of your overall oral bacteria. Is there a healthy amount of both types of bacteria, or are we leaning towards the harmful kind? Salivary testing can also help us track your progress after treatments and as your home care changes. Perhaps the best benefit of this testing, however, is the personalization of your care. With clearer information, we can build a periodontal care plan that is completely customized to you and your needs.
Wellness & Longevity
Health insights, not a diagnosis
It’s important to understand what salivary testing does and doesn’t do. Testing gives you and your care team valuable health insights. Testing doesn’t diagnose gum disease or any other condition on its own, and it doesn’t measure systemic inflammation or your overall health. Results are one piece of information that our dentists consider along with your exam, imaging, health history, and symptoms. When results suggest something worth exploring further, we’ll talk with you about next steps, which may include coordinating with your physician.
Wellness & Longevity
Who may benefit from salivary testing?
Salivary testing may be helpful if you:
- Have gum disease, bleeding gums, or gum pockets that haven’t responded as expected to treatment
- Have a family history of gum disease or early tooth loss
- Have diabetes, heart disease, or another condition where your physician has emphasized gum health (testing can help guide your oral care, but it doesn’t evaluate or monitor those conditions)
- Are planning major dental treatment, such as implants, and want to start with healthy gums
- Want a more complete picture of your oral health as part of a preventive, longevity-focused lifestyle
- Want to see how your oral bacteria change after gum treatment
Step by Step
How the test works
1
A conversation with your dentist
We’ll talk about your health, goals, and concerns to decide whether testing makes sense for you and which tests to run.
2
A simple saliva sample
Collecting the sample is quick, painless, and done right in our office. Absolutely no needles are involved.
3
Laboratory analysis
Your sample is sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis.
4
Reviewing your results
When results are ready, your dentist walks you through what they mean in plain language.
5
Your personalized plan
Together, we’ll build a plan to support your oral health. That may include targeted gum therapy, adjusted cleaning schedules, home-care changes, or coordination with your physician.
Wellness & Longevity
Part of a whole-body approach to dentistry
Salivary testing is one part of how we care for your whole health at Lansdowne Dental Care. Our approach also includes:
- Sleep and airway health. Dr. Tracey is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Healthy breathing during sleep is an important part of overall health.
- Gentle gum care. Our advanced cleanings and laser gum therapy help reduce harmful bacteria and inflammation.
- Jaw and joint health. We treat TMJ concerns with a system-based approach.
- Preventive care. Regular exams and cleanings remain the foundation of a healthy mouth.
Meet the Doctor
Why choose Lansdowne Dental Care?
Dr. Tracey brings an unusual depth of training to whole-body dentistry. She is a Scientific Advisor for the Kois Center, a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and she teaches dentists nationwide through the ASAP Pathway. Our team combines that expertise with a warm, unhurried approach, so you leave every visit understanding your health and feeling confident about your next steps.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does salivary testing hurt?
No. Collecting a saliva sample is quick and painless.
How long do results take?
Results are usually ready within a couple of business days after the lab receives your sample. We’ll contact you to review them once they’re ready.
Is salivary testing covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by test and plan. Please call our office, and our team will walk you through your options.
Do I need testing if my gums feel healthy?
Not everyone needs testing. Some bacteria and risk factors can be present before symptoms appear, so testing can be a helpful preventive tool for some patients. Dr. Tracey will help you decide whether it’s right for you.
Will you share my results with my physician?
With your permission, we’re happy to coordinate with your physician, so your care team has the full picture.
Take a deeper look at your health
Your smile is connected to your whole-body health. Call our office or schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Tracey to learn whether salivary testing is right for you.
Book Your Virtual Consult
Start With
a Conversation
Tell us a little about what you’re experiencing and our team will reach out to schedule your virtual consultation with Dr. Tracey.
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