Caries Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) is a saliva test that tells us whether you are at high risk for tooth decay.
Since we are a preventative dentistry, we focus on preventing chronic oral health conditions before they happen, which includes tooth decay and cavities.
Our Wyoming natural dentist will be able to customize a treatment plan based on the results of the saliva test. The test works by searching for both “good” and “bad” sugar complexes in your saliva. Good sugar complexes repel bacteria that cause cavities while bad sugar complexes do the opposite.
If it is determined you have a lot of bad sugar complexes in your saliva, our Wyoming family dentist will be able to help you adopt oral hygiene habits to stay in good health. The test results will also tell us if the problem is linked to a lack of minerals or excessive numbers of bacteria.
Saliva testing can be used for small children to help customize a care plan. For example, children at high risk for cavities can benefit from dental sealants and fluoride treatments. Adults can also benefit from saliva testing if they have had many issues with tooth decay in the past. Saliva tests for tooth decay are just one of many preventative dentistry services we offer.
Dr. Helmus DDS at River Ridge Family & Cosmetic Dentistry strives to help patients maintain healthy smiles for life. If you are interested in learning more about saliva testing, call our Wyoming natural dentistry at (616) 538-7320.