MyPerioPath provides DNA-PCR assessment of periodontal disease bacteria via simple salivary testing.
OralDNA Labs’ MyPerioPath is a simple, chairside salivary test that detects the presence and quantity of specific bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Based on DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, the molecular test enables early and accurate1 diagnosis and provides the information needed to design treatment plans tailored specifically to each patient, thus ensuring more predictable outcomes.
MyPerioPath may be used in conjunction with MyPerioID PST, which assesses individual genetic risk for periodontal disease.
Detecting Periodontal Disease Pathogens
An estimated 75% of all Americans over age 35 have some form of periodontal disease.1 The link between chronic periodontal infections and heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer2,3 underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis and prompt, effective treatment.
Nine of the 12 dentists who participated in this evaluation, all of whom are current MyPerioPath users, rated detection of periodontal disease pathogens as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. Six evaluators identified this as the feature they liked most. Comments included: “it quantifies a disease that usually has no symptoms,” “it serves as a clinical benchmark,” and “you get tailored treatment recommendations.”
Ease of Use
Sample collection takes only seconds using the MyPerioPath Oral Rinse collection methodology. The patient swishes saline solution for 30 seconds and expectorates into the barcode-labeled funneled collection tube. The funnel is removed and the specimen sealed for mailing to OralDNA Labs. Turnaround time is approximately 4 business days from receipt of the sample. A 20-minute online video (www.oraldna.com/training) explains the science, collection procedure, processing, and interpretation.
Ease of use was rated as excellent by 8 evaluators, as very good by 3, and as good by 1. Eight evaluators rated their experience with OralDNA Labs as excellent and 2 rated it as very good. One of the 2 evaluators who cited ease of use as their favorite feature said he would “feel better understanding the methodology and accuracy versus traditional paper-point testing in an infected sulcus.” Another evaluator described the process as “excellent and easily understood.” When asked what features they’d like to see improved, one dentist said there was “lots to fill out.” A dentist in practice for 14 years said, “I really don't see how it can be improved.”
Practice Benefits
Practice benefits of MyPerioPath were rated as excellent by 7 dentists and as very good by 5. One dentist called it “extremely useful as a tool for conversing with medical colleagues who share patients with common medical conditions affected by periodontal inflammation.” The evaluator who called it “a game-changer” said it has “created an entire shift within my practice. It allows us to treat more thoroughly and successfully, which has created very appreciative patients.”
When asked about usefulness as an aid in patient education, 9 evaluators rated it as excellent and 2 rated it as very good (1 evaluator did not answer this question). One evaluator suggested “a return to a more graphic presentation of the results,” explaining, “as the form took on a more clinical feel, it lost the impact for the patient…I now have to spend more time explaining what they’re looking at.” A dentist in practice for 32 years called it “a great patient motivator” and an evaluator with 28 years of experience described it as “an incredible diagnostic aid, helping not only with treatment planning but also with patient understanding of that treatment.” Another evaluator remarked, “Its usefulness for patient education is fantastic. I wouldn’t practice without it.”
Overall Satisfaction
All 12 evaluators said they would definitely purchase MyPerioPath in the future. Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 9 evaluators and as very good by 3. One dentist described it as “a triple-win…an excellent addition to our practice! It completely advances our care!” “There are so many ways MyPerioPath has improved my practice,” said another evaluator. “It has created an energy throughout my entire practice—from my office coordinator to my chairside assistant and, most importantly, my patients—producing an excitement and enthusiasm that has taken my practice to an entirely new level.”
References
1. Data on file. OralDNA Labs, Inc.
2. Genco R, Offenbacher S, Beck J. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: epidemiology and possible mechanisms. JADA. 2002; 133(Suppl):14S-22S.
3. Friedewald VE, Kornman KS, Beck JD, et al. The American Journal of Cardiology and Journal of Periodontology editors’ consensus: periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. J Periodontol. 2009;80:1021-1032.
4. Van Dyke TE. The management of inflammation in periodontal disease. J Periodontol. 2008;79:1601-1608.
