Choosing Dental Materials With Your Individual Needs in Mind

Every patient is different, and some individuals have concerns about how they may respond to particular dental materials.

Biocompatibility testing can provide additional information for patients who have a history of sensitivities, allergies, chemical sensitivity, or concerns about specific dental materials.

Our goal is to use this information, when appropriate, alongside a comprehensive dental evaluation to help guide thoughtful material selection.

What Is Biocompatibility Testing?

Biocompatibility testing is laboratory testing performed using a blood sample to evaluate an individual's reactivity to selected dental materials and substances.

For patients who choose to undergo testing, the results can provide additional information to consider when selecting materials for future dental treatment.

Testing may be particularly worth discussing for patients who:

• Have a history of chemical or material sensitivities

• Have experienced reactions or concerns with previous dental materials

• Are undergoing extensive restorative treatment

• Have concerns about the materials being placed in their mouth

• Prefer a more individualized approach to dental material selection

Testing is not necessary for every patient. We can discuss your history and treatment needs to determine whether it may be appropriate for you.

Materials Reactivity Testing

Materials Reactivity Testing is a laboratory screening performed through a blood draw that evaluates reactivity to a large number of substances used in or associated with dental care.

Depending on the specific test selected, testing may evaluate responses to more than 2,000 dental materials and related substances.

The resulting report provides detailed information that can be reviewed when considering materials for your individual treatment plan.

How Does the Testing Process Work?

The process begins with a discussion about your dental history, previous restorations, sensitivities, and upcoming treatment needs.

If testing is appropriate, a blood sample is collected and submitted to the laboratory for analysis.

The laboratory then provides a detailed report identifying the substances included in the testing panel and the patient's measured reactivity to those substances. For certain procedures, such as fillings, the report can even tell us the exact brand name of product to use for your dental treatment.

We can review the results with you and consider them alongside the clinical requirements of your dental treatment.

Why Consider Materials Reactivity Testing?

Patients seek materials testing for different reasons.

Some have experienced sensitivities with previous dental work. Others have multiple restorations planned and want additional information before selecting materials. Some simply prefer to take a more individualized approach to the materials used in their dental care.

For these patients, testing can provide another source of information when making treatment decisions.

Our philosophy is to consider the individual—not simply the restoration.

Biocompatibility & Personalized Dentistry

Biocompatibility testing fits naturally within our broader approach to individualized dental care.

Rather than assuming that every patient should receive exactly the same materials, we consider your dental condition, treatment requirements, aesthetic goals, preferences, and, when appropriate, information from materials reactivity testing.

This allows us to have a more informed conversation about the materials available for your treatment.

Is Testing Right for You?

Biocompatibility testing is not necessary for everyone, this is a personal choice.

If you have a history of chemical sensitivity, concerns about previous dental materials, or upcoming extensive restorative treatment, we can discuss whether testing may provide useful information for your situation.

Our goal is to help you understand your options and make informed decisions about the materials used in your dental care.

Biocompatibility Testing in Omaha

If you are looking for a holistic or biological dentist in Omaha and have concerns about sensitivity to dental materials, our practice offers biocompatibility and materials reactivity testing for appropriate patients.

Contact us to learn more about the testing process and how the results may be incorporated into your personalized dental treatment plan.