Case Study: Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on August 30, 2024August 30, 2024 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 ...

Why Join the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH)?

Posted on July 5, 2024July 3, 2024 by Susan Maples DDS

The length of my dental career has been shadowed by the declining health of our population. With great sadness, I have witnessed my patients arriving with new lists of lifestyle-related diagnoses and an assortment of medications, prescribed as “band-aids” for those ailments. In congruence, the ever-increasing prevalence of oral disease (caries, periodontitis, oropharyngeal cancer, and occlusal disease) has not surprised me. As a dedicated friend to my declining patients, I started looking fo...

Microbiology Terminology

Posted on March 24, 2023March 22, 2023 by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA

MyPerioPath® is a laboratory test that screens an oral rinse specimen collection for specific bacteria known to cause periodontal disease. Bacteria are often described using their scientific name, by categorizing as gram-negative or gram-positive, and by identifying their shape. These descriptors provide us with useful information about each bacterium. For example, it is plausible that motile bacteria are more resistant to localized treatment due to their ability to move away from areas whe...

“Biohacking” Our Genes Using Celsus One™ and Nrf2 Activation

Posted on December 30, 2022December 27, 2022 by Kimberly Hubenette DDS MAGD

In my practice, I am a “biohacker,” helping my patients become healthy at the cellular level, using biomarkers, saliva tests, blood work, and new-age supplements; hacking the genetic code to help my patients live a preventive lifestyle. I often tell my patients that their mouth is an indication of their internal body tissue health. Incorporating the genetic analysis from the Celsus One™ report helps me establish personalized health recommendations utilizing genetic risk factors related to th...

Probiotics Combined with Antibiotics Can Help

Posted on September 2, 2022August 29, 2022 by Ellie Campbell DO

Almost all of us will be faced with the need to take an antibiotic at some time. Certainly, they are overused in many instances, but can also be lifesaving. Besides killing the bacteria that are causing the infection, antibiotics can also wreak havoc with the gut microbes. If you think of your gut flora like a tropical rainforest with vast diversity, think of antibiotics as a slash and burn therapy that does not discriminate between friendly probiotic strains and pathogenic invaders. It i...

Sick and Tired of Patients Being… Sick and Tired?

Posted on July 1, 2022June 1, 2022 by Machell Hudson RDH

Me too! Day after day, patients dismiss their oral health, writing it off as “My gums have always bled.” Inside, my head was exploding, but outside my heart was opened. I knew that I had a chance to educate my patients to a whole new level of health. One where their energy would be boosted, risk to coronary heart disease would be lowered, and the chance of them developing diabetes would be significantly reduced. I became a hygienist on a mission. I instinctively knew that if things were g...

Everyone Has a Story

Posted on May 27, 2022May 26, 2022 by Kriston Reisnour RDH, BSDH, CCSH, COMS

Every patient that sits in your dental chair has a story. All stories have a beginning, middle, and end, as does life. We have the wonderful opportunity to help our patients be able to live a long and productive one. Jumping to the middle of my story, my mom died at the age of 58 and my dad at age 60, both from end stage vascular diseases. They didn’t get a chance to enjoy their children into their adult years, get time with their grandchildren, or even meet their great grandchildren. I, like ma...

Patient with Chronic Gingivitis & Oral Candida

Posted on April 1, 2022March 29, 2022 by Kathleen Nichols, DDS

Challenge: Patient presented with chronic gingivitis and oral Candida symptoms Background: A 64-year-old female sought treatment from a medical doctor for a “thrush-like” infection. The medical doctor then referred the patient to an ENT. However, this patient was already of our record and decided to start with our office. The chief complaint is a “thrush-like” infection in the mouth, throat and lips. The clinical assessment confirmed generalized white patches. Upon periodontal assessment,...

Patient with Dental Pain, Periodontal Disease & High Blood Pressure

Posted on September 3, 2021September 7, 2021 by Ashley Spooner DDS

Challenge: To address the dental concerns to resolve patient’s dental pain. To educate the patient on the connection between dental health and overall health. Background: The patient is a 37-year-old male who presented with a dental pain emergency. The home care is poor and patient has history of only seeking dental care for emergencies. Medically, the patient has hypothyroidism, hypertension, high cholesterol, and significant difficulty breathing while asleep. The blood pressure reading ...