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

Posted on May 3, 2024August 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, the d...

Guided Biofilm Therapy and the Systemic Link

Posted on April 19, 2024April 23, 2024 by Kendra Fox RDH

How many times have you asked your patients if their medical history has changed, and their response is, “It has changed, but it has nothing to do with dentistry”? How about the patient I saw last month for her prophy, who said “No” when I asked her for any changes in her medical history and she is wearing a hospital wrist band due to the heart condition she was just treated for? There is an abundance of evidence from scholarly articles linking oral health to systemic health.1 Its effect on one ...

A Dental Detective Story – When a 102% Surge in Bacterial Load After Scaling Unveils a Horizontal Transmission Tale

Posted on April 5, 2024April 4, 2024 by Robert Benavides DDS

In the world of healthcare, understanding the root cause of health issues is paramount to providing effective treatment. This principle was put to the test in a fascinating case that highlighted the importance of considering both clinical and personal factors in patient care. The case involved an unexpected 102% increase in bacterial load within a patient's mouth, despite having undergone scaling, irrigation, and decontamination—a procedural-set known to significantly reduce bacterial load. ...

Oral Health and Whole-Body Health: Using Testing to Address Cause and Effect with Dr. Ron McGlennen

Posted on March 29, 2024March 28, 2024 by Amanda Seaton, B.S.

You know that oral health can profoundly impact whole-body health. And your patients are becoming increasingly aware of this fact. You’re uniquely positioned to influence their oral care decisions. So, how do you expertly educate them about this vital connection? Join Ron McGlennen, MD, and Jocelyn Strand, ND, on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, at 11am PT as they discuss evaluating oral health and addressing dental disorders from an integrative perspective. In this “fireside chat,” Dr. McGlennen...

Empowering Patients: The Game-Changing Benefits of Alert 2™

Posted on March 22, 2024March 21, 2024 by Kee-ju Hong-Elder DDS

While we’ve found the Alert 2™ test extremely useful for hygienists and dentists, in my experience I’ve found that ultimately the patient has the greatest benefit from the test results. Many patients may not fully grasp the impact of bacteria on their oral and systemic health or hold preconceived notions that may be at odds with their diagnosis. And while we can explain the role of bacteria and genetic influence on their diagnosis, the Alert 2 report from OralDNA® has been a game changer for...

Six Mouth Infections You Need to Get Rid of if You Have Heart Disease (Condensed Version)

Posted on March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS

Address Oral Health to Prevent Heart Attacks, Strokes, and High Blood Pressure When you ask most people, “What can you do to treat heart disease?” they will say diet and exercise. But how many people mention mouth bacteria at the top of the list for turning around heart disease? Even medical doctors rarely mention this as a top contributor to heart disease. While diet and exercise are critical, don’t overlook the sinister bacteria lurking in the mouth that cause gum infections and send the he...

Class II Generalized Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Requesting Implant Placement

Posted on February 16, 2024February 14, 2024 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...

Pure Perio: Upcoming Events

Posted on January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 by Thomas Nabors DDS - Andrea Owens RDH

Pure Perio is an oral health course that focuses on total body health by treating periodontal disease founded by Dr. Tommy Nabors, the pioneer in salivary diagnostics. Our core concept involves understanding the body’s inflammatory cascade through microbiology with salivary diagnostics. By attending the course, you will learn the science behind periodontal disease and total body health from research-based sources. After understanding the science, you will learn an oral health protocol to appl...

An Unknown Cause of Infertility

Posted on January 12, 2024January 10, 2024 by Katie Lee DDS

Although the construct of the family unit is evolving, having children remains important to the majority of adults. Yet, more and more adults are experiencing difficulties having children and are turning to assisted reproductive methods to start a family. A reported 10% of the population are infertile, although from personal experience, I believe that number is much higher. This is due to a multitude of reasons, one of the reasons being advanced maternal age. The CDC reported that the averag...

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

Posted on December 29, 2023December 27, 2023 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 te...