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:

• Periodontal disease

• Bleeding or inflamed tissues

• Refractory cases not responding to SRP

• Implant candidates or failing implants

• “Not-a-prophy” 6-month recare patients

• 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:

• Move beyond “one-size-fits-all” treatment

• Target therapy more effectively

• Improve outcomes in refractory and implant cases

• 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.