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Clinical Workflow for Periodontal Bacterial Testing | MicrobeLink Dx®
Clinical Workflow for Periodontal Bacterial Testing
When to Test • How to Treat • When to Re-Test
Understanding when to use bacterial testing — and what to do next — can be confusing for dental teams. This periodontal bacterial testing workflow was created to help dental teams confidently identify infection and guide treatment decisions.
The MicrobeLink Dx® workflow is infection-based, practical, and designed for real-world use in the operatory.
Who This Workflow Is For
This guide is designed for dentists and hygienists treating patients with:
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Periodontal disease
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Bleeding or inflamed tissues
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Refractory cases not responding to SRP
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Implant candidates or failing implants
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“Not-a-prophy” 6-month recare patients
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Medically high-risk patients
What This Guide Covers
✔ When to collect a bacterial sample
✔ How to interpret severity and risk
✔ When SRP alone is sufficient
✔ When to consider adjunctive systemic antibiotics
✔ How to approach implant cases
✔ When and why to re-test
This workflow does not replace clinical judgment — it supports it with objective microbial data.
Why Bacterial Testing Matters
Periodontal disease is an infection, not just inflammation. Identifying the specific pathogens driving disease allows clinicians to:
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Move beyond “one-size-fits-all” treatment
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Target therapy more effectively
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Improve outcomes in refractory and implant cases
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Support patients with systemic health risks
MicrobeLink Dx® uses paper-point DNA-PCR testing to sample bacteria directly from the base of the periodontal pocket — where anaerobic pathogens live.
Download the Clinical Workflow Guide
This printable PDF is designed for chairside reference and team training.
👉 [Download the MicrobeLink Dx® Clinical Workflow Guide (PDF)
Perfect for hygienists, dentists, and onboarding new team members.
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