Root Canal Therapy

Posted on May 8, 2020May 20, 2021 by Kelly Blodgett DMD

“News flash! All root canal-treated teeth are infected!” If you are a licensed dentist or endodontist, that statement is likely to strike a nerve. Without question, our scientific understanding of bacterial infectious diseases in the oral microbiome has progressed more than ever in recent years. Testing services such as OralDNA® Labs, aid us by analyzing the pathogens living in the oral environment: I would call it a modern wonder. With so much progress in oral health care, it would stand to...

Critical Thinking: The Systemic Antibiotic Option

Posted on April 24, 2020May 20, 2021 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

The MyPerioPath® test provides a wide variety of valuable information for the clinician to consider in the care of their patients. In one example, the Treatment Consideration section of the report provides a recommendation for a regimen of oral antibiotics when the test results show bacteria levels greater than the black lines, called the therapeutic threshold. Where did this recommendation come from? This choice of drug, along with the recommended doses, are based on published research of...

Case Study: Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on February 21, 2020May 20, 2021 by Shawn Perla RDH

Challenge: A new patient who has neglected dental care for 20 years with a chief complaint of broken teeth and bleeding gums appoints to address his dental concerns. Background: A 70-year-old male patient with broken teeth and bleeding gums appoints to our office. His last dental visit was estimated to be 20 years ago. Surprisingly the patient was not experiencing dental pain. The periodontal assessment revealed generalized 4-6 mm pockets with localized 7-9 mm pockets, inflamed and bulbo...

How do you speak Dementia/Brain Health and Periodontal Disease with your patients?

Posted on February 7, 2020August 14, 2024 by Steven Ritzi DDS

Dr. McGlennen: Concerning dementia and brain health, recent medical studies point to poor oral health, and high levels of the bacteria in our gums with the increased risk to develop Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia1-3. Specifically, there is now evidence of the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid and it may be involved with the production of the abnormal proteins that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease4. Additionally, t...

Interview with Ryan McWhorter, MD

Posted on January 31, 2020May 20, 2021 by Ryan McWhorter MD

Dr. McGlennen: Please explain how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics in your functional medicine practice. Ryan McWhorter MD: I use OralDNA® Labs’ MyPerioPath® test when I suspect or know there are sources of inflammation. The lab results are part of the evaluation for coronary heart disease treatment, joint problems, cancer support, autoimmune reversal or problems in women's pelvic health, fertility or miscarriages. Dr. McGlennen: What is your primary consideration when selecting ...

Up Your Oral Health Game with Salivary Testing: Part 2

Posted on January 17, 2020May 20, 2021 by Barbara Tritz RDH

The Path of Pathogen Destruction Cardiovascular Disease We know that the oral pathogens Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Treponema denticola (Td), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) are directly connected to atherosclerosis.1 We know cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States. Gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes and aspiration pn...

Up Your Oral Health Game with Salivary Testing: Part 1

Posted on January 10, 2020May 20, 2021 by Barbara Tritz RDH

Aren’t you tired of the same old drill and fill, pumice-pushing lecture about tooth decay, flossing, and bleeding gums? Yet, patients still come back infected and full of plaque. All our great suggestions are for naught. We keep lecturing, hoping for different results. It becomes discouraging and frustrating for our patients and leads to burnout and career changes for us. On top of that - despite all of our efforts, all of our breath, and all of our floss - periodontal disease is still ...

Interview with Charissa Wood, RDH

Posted on December 13, 2019May 20, 2021 by Charissa Wood RDH

Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Charissa Wood RDH: At Atlanta Dental Spa, we utilize OralDNA® salivary diagnostics to help our patients achieve optimal oral health. We take a complete health approach to our patients’ care and salivary diagnostics helps us assess our patients’ genetic predispositions to inflammation as well as the perio-pathogen load levels. OralDNA® lab reports allow us to truly tailor patient care based off the information we get from test...

Class II Generalized Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Requesting Implant Placement

Posted on December 6, 2019May 20, 2021 by Patricia Lugo DMD

Challenge: To establish periodontal remission by addressing the clinical manifestations of periodontal disease and altering the oral flora in order to lower the incidence of periodontal disease relapse. Bacterial management will eliminate a source of total body inflammation and increase success of implant placement. Background: The patient is a 66 year-old-male with rheumatoid arthritis, taking Lisinopril and is a potential candidate for implant to restore #19. Patient’s daily home care r...

Systemic Inflammation, Elevated hs-CRP, and Oral Bacterial Pathogens Decrease After Two Years of Natural Dental Health Treatments: A Case Study

Posted on November 8, 2019May 20, 2021 by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS, Ellie Campbell DO

Heart Disease Begins in the Mouth High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is the most clear, quantifiable, and readily accessible marker of the oral-systemic connection. We present a case study of an otherwise healthy 62-year-old woman with elevated hs-CRP who had abundant numbers of pathogenic oral bacteria. A natural dental health treatment over two years lowered hs-CRP and lowered oral pathogens. Given the links between oral disease, inflammation, and heart disease, it is wise to ...