Oral HPV in Clinical Practice: Screening, Risk, and Early Detection

Posted on by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month – a timely reminder that HPV is the leading factor and part of the cause of oral cancers, with about 70% of cases linked to the virus.(1) This marks a shift from the historical focus on tobacco and alcohol abuse as the cause. Today, understanding oral HPV transmission, persistence, and testing is an important stance in one's ability to provide cutting edge patient care. How Is Oral HPV Transmitted? Oral HPV is a common virus that can be transmitted t...
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The Link Between RA and Periodontal Disease: Bidirectional Cycle/Shared Inflammation

Posted on by Dr. Jinita Parekh
The Challenge: A 29 year old female patient came in extremely concerned with her bleeding gums and wondering if that is also related to her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The Background: Age: 29 Sex: Female Medical History: Elevated Rheumatoid factor and undergoing further diagnosis to conclude diagnosis for RA  Last Dental Exam: 2021 Home Care: Manual toothbrush 2x daily, floss occasionally Chief Complaint: bleeding gums, sensitive gums Clinical Assessment: ...
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Throwback: Oral Health Contributing to Health Issues

Posted on by Sarah Tevis, DDS
Challenge: Due to dental anxiety, specifically the fear of being overwhelmed with dental problems, the patient finally took the necessary steps to address her chief complaint, “My gums are bleeding, and my teeth are sensitive. I want a more holistic approach to dental care. I feel like my mouth is contributing to my health issues.” Background: Age: 37 Sex: Female Medical History: Severe eczema since childhood, long term topical and systemic steroid for skin has resulted in s...
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RDH Spotlight: Oanh Pham, CPhT, RDH, BSDH

Posted on by Oanh Pham, CPhT, RDH, BSDH
Dr. McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it? Oanh: I’ve always had a strong passion for helping others and initially pursued a career in nursing. Over time, I realized a career in dental hygiene has a better work life balance while still allowing me to make meaningful impacts on patients’ overall health. What I find most rewarding is knowing that my role goes beyond oral health. By treating periodontal disease, I’m also...
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Medical Dental Collaboration for 2026

Posted on by Patti DeMatteis, RDH, AS
Healthcare outcomes often suffer due to "siloed" practices. While the average patient may see five to eight different providers concurrently, they frequently fail to achieve optimal health because those providers are not working together. Congratulations, OralDNA testers on diagnosing and managing periodontal disease using objective salivary diagnostics. With an effective protocol in place, you are likely seeing a significant reduction in pathogens for most patients. However, when results...
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RDH Spotlight: Heidy Esperansa Garcia, RDH

Posted on by Heidy Esperansa Garcia, RDH
Dr. McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it? Heidy: Growing up, I had the most amazing relationship with my dental office, and it started with my dental hygienist. She was kind, knowledgeable, and made each visit feel comfortable, which sparked my interest in dental care. I loved the idea of being able to help people feel confident about their smiles and promote overall health, so I decided to pursue a career in dental ...
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Throwback: Oral Gut Connection Case Study with Medical Emphasis

Posted on by Debbie Ozment DDS MS, NBC-HWC, ABAAHP
The Challenge: This apparently healthy, muscular college student was suffering from brain fog, alternating constipation and diarrhea, bloating, decreased appetite, and low energy. He reports having trouble concentrating, which is interfering with his work. He was referred to me by his mother, who attended my classes on Vitality. The Background: Age & Gender: 23-year-old Male Medical History: Insignificant; no chronic illnesses. No pharmaceutical medica...
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Secure Your Spot: Pure Perio in Nashville

Posted on by Thomas Nabors DDS - Andrea Owens RDH
We’re excited to share an upcoming continuing education experience that brings periodontal care back to its roots while embracing where dentistry is headed next. Pure Perio, led by Dr. Tommy Nabors and Andrea Owens, RDH, BS, OFMT, is designed to reshape how dental teams understand and treat periodontal disease by taking an oral-systemic, evidence-based approach. About the Course Pure Perio delivers a comprehensive framework for treating periodontal disease as a systemic health issue, not a...
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The iADS Forum 2026: Two Days. All Specialties. One Collaborative Vision.

Posted on by Dr. Alan Farber, DDS
Join leading dental specialists from across the country for two days of advanced clinical education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and forward-thinking innovation at the iADS FORUM 2026. This exclusive event is designed for specialists who want to elevate their clinical impact, strengthen referral relationships, and stay at the forefront of modern dentistry. The iADS Forum 2026, held at YM Dental Lab in Chantilly, VA on May 15–16, is exactly that kind of gathering. Designed exclusively for...
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Throwback: Why? What? How?

Posted on by Michael Goldberg DMD
WHY?…WHAT?…HOW? This is a philosophy that is often taught in dental and hygiene schools: Diagnose, Treatment Plan, then Treat. And yet, immediately after this is taught, a focus is placed on learning treatment, or the HOW. And then upon graduation the focus also becomes on treatment and production. The diagnosis (WHY) and planning (WHAT) become secondary. They’re only an avenue to an end…Production, a means to an end. That’s where the money is. In a nutshell, that’s the problem with our...
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