Henderson, Nev.-based PDS Health and United Concordia Dental have launched a saliva screening pilot designed to improve periodontal disease management and advance dental-medical integration.
The 18-month pilot is being conducted at nearly 125 PDS Health dental practices in Southern California, according to a Sept. 3 news release. As part of the initiative, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 United Concordia members diagnosed with or at risk for gum disease will be continuously screened for levels of active Matrix Metalloproteinase-8, a biomarker associated with collagen breakdown and active periodontal tissue destruction. United Concordia will fund the screenings at no cost to participants.
The pilot aims to assess whether saliva screening can motivate patients to better manage their gum disease and follow treatment plans, and to determine how results can inform future benefit design for covering saliva screening during gum disease treatment.
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