The Lagom Method: A Balanced Approach to Health

Health isn’t just about avoiding disease – it’s about thriving sustainably. As a dentist, public health advocate, and former professional athlete, I’ve learned that lasting well-being isn’t built on extremes, but rather on balance and consistency. In Swedish culture, we call this Lagom – "just the right amount." As part of The Lagom Method, I incorporate salivary diagnostics as part of the ”toolbox” to manage your health journey. The Lagom Method: A Habit-Based Approach Lagom is a phil...
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The Hidden Threat to Dental Implants: Why Ignoring Bacteria is a Risky Gamble – Part 2

  In Part 1, we uncovered a hidden threat to dental implants—bacteria—and explored why so many providers overlook the critical step of testing for harmful pathogens before placement. Despite the clear risks, common objections like cost, insurance coverage, and lack of awareness often stand in the way. In Part 2, we’ll break down how to shift the conversation, overcome objections, and use ethical influence to help patients make the best decision for their long-term health. The truth i...
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The Hidden Threat to Dental Implants: Why Ignoring Bacteria is a Risky Gamble – Part 1

    Dental implants are everywhere these days. But you know what else is popping up more often? Implant failures. Here’s the title of a recently promoted CE course: “Peri-Implantitis Badlands: Surviving the Wasteland of Failing Implants” It’s like Einstein said: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. So, when a patient loses teeth due to periodontal disease, why in the world would we expect implants to be immun...
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Unlock the Connection Between Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Disease: A Free Webinar

Unlock the Connection Between Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Disease: A Free Webinar
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...
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Practicing Dental Medicine: The Partnership with a Clinical Laboratory

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

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

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

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...
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MyoMentor®: Mouth Breathing the Missing Piece

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

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...
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