WWYD...DNA testing of oral bacteria..(loss mentioned)

[mangosink0]

I am super stressing and wanted to get your opinion. I went to the dentist yesterday, and they said my gums were swollen (they've been telling me that for a few years, although the last time I went was 2007 and was nursing). My teeth looked great, have never in my life had a cavity, but my gums do bleed occasionally when I brush. I'm 25 weeks pregnant. The hygenist was pg too, and recommended that I have some DNA testing of the oral bacteria. Then she threw in an article she just read about some pregnant lady who had this bacteria in her mouth and got a cold so was immunosuppressed and the bacteria went to her bloodstream and then her womb, and she had a stillborn baby that had that oral bacteria in it's lungs and stomach. (I went home and googled and found the article, it did happen). Well me being already afraid of a stillborn, agreed to the test. $169 not covered by insurance. Which is fine and all, but the lab makes recommendations depending on which bacteria they find and how much there is as to what antibiotic you should take, or rarely they may not recommend an antibiotic. So...I don't want to take an abx while pg. Now I'm super worried about it, and don't know what to do. Could be mine will come back fine, but also could be that they tell me to take metronidazole or another abx. I just don't know if the risk is great enough for me to take an abx and expose the baby to that. I'm feeling a little angry that they coerced me into the test with the mention of the stillbirth. What would you do? Oh, and the hygenist gave me her report to look at. At the bottom of the report the lab who processes these tests is in my city and the chief dental officer is my dentist or his dad. So, I'm thinking he has a financial interest in this. The hygenist told me even she had to pay $100 for the test, which tells me that $69 is profit. Should I call and tell them to cancel the test? Wait for the results and just ignore the recommendations if I don't agree? no one else I know has a dentist who recommends this test, even my OB's nurse said she really didn't know anything about it. WWYD?

[Otto]

Originally Posted by mangosink0

no one else I know has a dentist who recommends this test, even my OB's nurse said she really didn't know anything about it. WWYD?

It sounds an awful lot like a situation in which the hot new diagnostic test just might lead to your being offered to pay for a hot new treatment.

I'd be inclined to call one of your friend's dentists who doesn't offer the test and ask them why--if it's offered from dentists' offices, somebody has to be trying to sell it to them.

[JaneS]

I think that is malpractice. I would ask for my money back.

Do you floss?

For gums, I would do coconut oil pulling:
http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org...%20pulling.htm

Also the minerals in your diet is what drives the bacteria that colonize your teeth and gums. Sounds implausible in this age of bacterial theory of cavities but it is true. See "Curing Cavities with Nutrition" sticky.