San Antonio dentists know that a mouth examination can reveal problems 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 detecting systemic diseases – a test that analyzes 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 William J. Stewart Jr. DDS Advanced Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. William Stewart helps patients maintain optimum oral health and dazzling smiles with advanced cosmetic dentistry. However, Dr. Stewart understands how the state of your dental health affects the rest of your body. You can think of Dr. Stewart as an indispensable member of your complete 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 William J. Stewart Jr. DDS Advanced Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Some of our most popular treatments at William J. Stewart Jr. DDS Advanced Family & Cosmetic Dentistry include sedation dentistry, dental crowns, and root canals. We also do oral cancer screening.
1Saliva Test May Uncover Deadly Diseases, Dentistry Today (citing an article in Clinical Chemistry, clinchem.org), November 6, 2014, http://dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/10711-saliva-test-may-uncover-deadly-diseases, accessed on December 19, 2014
