Integrated oral healthcare provider Smile Generation and Delta Dental of Massachusetts are seeing early positive results for their saliva testing collaboration.
The initiative offers chairside, saliva-based assessments to DDMA members at participating dental practices in Massachusetts.
The saliva assessment measures levels of biomarkers that indicate active collagen breakdown in the gums. Elevated levels indicate gum disease progression before visible symptoms appear, while reduced levels indicate less collagen breakdown, according to a Dec. 11 news release.
More than 1,600 patients have received saliva-based assessments over the last 14 months. More than 30 percent of these patients have seen improvements in their scores. Additionally, more than 50% of patients who received saliva assessments accepted their provider-recommended treatment plans, the organizations said.
The organizations will continue the initiative through the end of 2026.
