Hi, I’m Dr David Cowhig founder of Dental Wellness. I’d like to talk to you today about a simple test that we can do. If you have a root treated tooth in your mouth and it’s not hurting, it’s been maybe carried out by a specialist and you’ve not had any problems with it, but maybe the gum around it is often a little bit sore. And we need to make sure that there isn’t bacteria coming from that tooth releasing nasty toxins into your body.
So this Orotox test is a German test and it involves just a simple little paper point, which is just like a paper pin. Taking this model, for example, we place it on the inside of the tooth so that it sits underneath the gum for one minute. Now, this paper is absorbent and it will absorb what’s called the crevicular fluid that is underneath the gum.
Now it will absorb in that minute and then we would take that paper point and we will put it in this little reagent that’s a solution. And it’s a solution that measures the level of hydrogen sulfides and the level of mercaptans. Now, these are by-products of anaerobic bacteria and if they are at a high level, then there is a question mark over the tooth whether that tooth is actually continually challenging your immune system. So this is left to stand for five minutes and after five minutes we then look at the colour of the liquid.
Now if the liquid inside hasn’t changed colour and it’s still clear, then that’s great. That means there’s a very low level and we would just keep reviewing that tooth, but if it’s bright yellow it shows a sign that it has a high level of these hydrogen sulphides and we would then start investigating further, and maybe take a further x-ray or even a three dimensional cone beam x-ray to have a good look at the end of the roots to make sure there’s no infection that we haven’t been able to see before.
Dr David Cowhig, the founder of the Dental Wellness clinics, is a pioneer in holistic dentistry & aesthetics, providing scientific-based biological dentistry. We support you as an individual and take into account the variety of factors that can lead to dental and oral health problems. We believe passionately that creating health and beauty around us is an integral part of life and you will feel these qualities in our dental care. You can find us at The Gap in Brisbane, focussing on holistic aesthetic total metal-free dentistry.
Contact Dental Wellness on 07 3511 1399 or email [email protected].