Unlock the Connection Between Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Disease: A Free Webinar

Posted on December 27, 2024December 23, 2024 by Taylor Oltman

Are you ready to explore the latest advancements in oral-systemic health? Don’t miss "Periodontal Inflammation as a Driver of Systemic Disease," a free webinar hosted by Dental CE Academy in partnership with OralDNA® Labs. This webinar is designed to give providers an in-depth understanding of how periodontal inflammation impacts systemic health and how to incorporate the latest tools and strategies into practice. Course Summary While inflammation is an essential component of the body's im...

Practicing Dental Medicine: The Partnership with a Clinical Laboratory

Posted on December 13, 2024December 12, 2024 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

If you are reading this article, you were likely born in a country and era where medical testing is a routine part of healthcare. From birth, data collection begins with tracking weight and height, followed by simple blood tests to screen for potential concerns. As we progress through life, additional tests are conducted based on signs and symptoms, reflecting a reactive approach essential for treating existing conditions. On the other hand, some tests are used proactively to intercept disea...

How Do You Speak Testing? With Bianca Velayo DMD – Part 1

Posted on November 22, 2024January 8, 2025 by Bianca Velayo DMD

Hypothetical Patient Bio: Patient A (Husband): A 35-year-old male, non-smoker, generally healthy with no systemic conditions. The patient reported that his symptoms began approximately three years ago and progressively worsened despite regular brushing. Patient B (Wife): A 32-year-old female, non-smoker, generally healthy with no systemic conditions. She is currently 18 weeks pregnant with her first child. Periodontal Assessment: Patient A: Probing depths: 5-8 mm in several sites...

Research Spotlight: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Role of Salivary Diagnostics by Emily Long, BS

Posted on November 15, 2024January 23, 2025 by Emily Long

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of all head and neck cancers, posing a significant public health concern worldwide (Shafiq et al., 2023). Despite increasing awareness, OSCC is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to poor prognoses and lower survival rates (Roi et al., 2019). If untreated, this type of cancer can metastasize, spreading to other regions of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, 53% of cancers in the oral cavity and pharynx are id...

Revolutionizing Periodontal Disease Screening and Treatment with OFC and Alert 2™ Diagnostics

Posted on October 25, 2024October 22, 2024 by Robert Benavides DDS

In the evolving field of dental diagnostics, early detection is the key to effective management of periodontal disease. One of the latest advances in our practice is the utilization of OFC (Oral Fitness Check) by DentoGnostics, a groundbreaking tool that allows us to screen for active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8). The presence of aMMP-8 signals ongoing collagen breakdown, providing valuable insight into the health of the periodontal tissues. When detected, this makes our providers cur...

MyoMentor®: Mouth Breathing the Missing Piece

Posted on September 20, 2024September 19, 2024 by Jennifer Rooney, BSDH

Continuous learning is essential, especially in healthcare. Although I have been a hygienist for over 30 years, it wasn’t until two and a half years ago that my understanding of how to best help patients and colleagues drastically changed—much like it did when I was first introduced to OralDNA® Labs in 2009. Research has long shown the strong connection between oral health and overall body health, especially through the control of oral bacterial biofilm. However, one challenging aspect is...

Dr. Benavides: “Did We Overtreat: The Value of Proactive Intervention for the Periodontal Patient.”

Posted on August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 by Robert Benavides DDS

Disambiguating between Plaque-Induced Gingivitis and Stage II Periodontitis is an easy diagnostic feat. The difficulty increases when we attempt to finalize a diagnosis between Gingivitis and Early-Onset Periodontitis. As a reminder, according to The American Academy of Periodontology, it takes 15% of radiographic bone loss (RBL) for our patients to land at Stage I Periodontitis. The goal of this article is to present you with two cases that could be interpreted as borderline. Our goa...

Join Us at the Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) Conference 2024: A Must-Attend Event

Posted on August 9, 2024August 8, 2024 by Taylor Oltman

Why Attend IMMH 2024? The IMMH Conference is renowned for its in-depth exploration of integrative medicine and its profound impact on mental health. This event is designed to provide groundbreaking insights into personalized and precision approaches that address the root causes of mental health disorders. Esteemed experts such as Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Kat Toups, Dr. Stephen Porges, and many others will share their expertise at this year's conference, covering a wide rang...

Diagnostic Dialogues with Dr. Neusha Najafi DDS

Posted on August 2, 2024July 31, 2024 by Dr. Neusha Najafi

Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you were introduced to OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Neusha Najafi DDS: Unfortunately, I was first introduced to OralDNA at a very low point in my life. I had just suffered a late term loss at 24 weeks pregnancy called PPROM. I was told that my condition was due to an infection that caused my membrane to rupture prematurely. Up until that point, I had had zero complications in my pregnancy. The doctors said the cause of the infection was unknown and th...

The Time Is Now: Halftime

Posted on July 19, 2024July 19, 2024 by Michael Goldberg DMD

“Timing is everything” was made popular by none other than the bard himself, William Shakespeare in “Julius Caesar.” How apropos! Half the year is over. Now is the perfect time to step back and reassess. It’s also the perfect time to evaluate new opportunities. The issue of cognitive decline is front and center in the public’s eyes for obvious reasons. I’m sure sales of Prevagen® have skyrocketed. That’s why NOW is the time to discuss this with your patients and referral sour...