Dr. McGlennen: The oral microbiota changes when women become pregnant, and levels of periodontal pathogens increase1. During pregnancy, periodontal inflammation worsens, mostly due to increased levels of A.a., P.g., F.n., and P.i.2. Among these oral pathogens, there is a marked risk of infection of the maternal blood and the placenta, which leads to an increase in pre-term labor, lower birth weight and even the chance of fetal loss due specifically to the bacteria P.g. and F.n.3,4. Furth...
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Throwback
Throwback: Interview with the Searcy Dental Team
Dr. McGlennen: Please tell me how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics in your practice.
Searcy Dental team: We use salivary diagnostics as standard protocol in our periodontal therapy program, especially MyPerioPath®. These results help us, and patients, understand exactly which pathogens are present and at what levels. When a patient has responded to our applied therapy, we are able to measure the amazing results by post treatment testing.
Searcy Dental team: Inflammation is n...
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Throwback: Soft Tissue Program with a Microscope & MyPerioPath®
As with most dental practices we have a soft tissue program in place to help treat periodontal disease as well as gingivitis. We use the traditional x-rays and periodontal probing exams that allow us to assess periodontal damage that has already occurred within the soft tissues and bone. We have also implemented a new type of exam that can show us bacteria that is present in the gum tissues.
Our team recently received training on the use of a microscope and Dr. Hawkins decided to pu...
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Case Study: Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
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 ...
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Why Join the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH)?
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...
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Microbiology Terminology
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...
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“Biohacking” Our Genes Using Celsus One™ and Nrf2 Activation
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...
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Probiotics Combined with Antibiotics Can Help
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...
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Sick and Tired of Patients Being… Sick and Tired?
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...
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Everyone Has a Story
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...
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