Plymouth Gum Disease Test Gains National Recognition

Sample News Big

An over the counter gum disease test, which is being developed at Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry, has gained national recognition. The test, which is currently being developed by researchers at the university, is based on a research study and aims to improve the way gum disease is diagnosed. The study was recently recognised by the National Institute of Health Research.

Gum disease is diagnosed by dentists based on physical examination and X-rays and researchers are hoping to develop an over the counter test that reduces diagnosis time and would help to ensure that more cases are diagnosed early, when treatment is more effective.

Around 10 per cent of the population in the UK suffers from moderate or severe gum disease, according to the British Society of Periodontology. Severe gum disease is not just a major cause of premature tooth loss. It also requires long-term, careful management, which can be costly.

Building on the need for a quicker, more efficient saliva test to diagnose gum disease, the Plymouth University team is working to develop a quick, simple and effective test that can be used by the general public and will be easily accessible via pharmacies.

Dr Svetislav Zaric, lead researcher and senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at the university, said that the methods that are currently used to diagnose advanced gum disease are limited and unable to predict how the disease will develop in the future. The saliva test, which is in the development stage, will present an affordable, accessible and accurate means of diagnosis with the added bonus that it can give a prediction of how the disease will affect the mouth in the future.

Join this Discussion

Comments are closed.