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...

Words of Wisdom from Dr. John Kempton

Posted on June 24, 2022June 1, 2022 by John Kempton DDS

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?” When we asked Dr. John Kempton from LAUNCH Oral Systemic Health to respond to “That’s more than I was expecting,” here is his approach. When patients respond to our consultation with “That’s more than...

Periodontal Disease, Sleep, and a Water Bottle – What’s the Connection?

Posted on June 17, 2022June 1, 2022 by Jennifer Rooney, BSDH

Would you say that periodontal disease and sleep quality are related? The potentially toxic protein, beta amyloid, associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, disrupts the communication between brain cells, leading to cognitive dysfunction. One cause of beta amyloid plaque formation is the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) bacteria, Pg crosses the blood brain barrier in periodontal disease. This pathogen along with ten other bacterial strains are easily detectable with MyPerioPath®...

Video Interview with Sarah Tevis Poteet DDS

Posted on June 10, 2022June 6, 2022 by Sarah Poteet DDS PA

Dr. McGlennen: As a physician, my education included not only how to care for patients, but how to use clinical laboratory tests to make diagnoses and guide treatment for patients. Being the medical director of OralDNA® Labs and broadening the scope of the medical profession to include all of my colleagues in the practice of dentistry has been rewarding. I am inspired every day by colleagues who think outside of their educational conventions, and work to set the bar higher and include testin...

Words of Wisdom by Sheena Hinson RDH

Posted on June 3, 2022April 18, 2022 by Sheena Hinson RDH

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?” Patient: “Will my insurance cover this?” This is one of the greater dilemmas in the dental industry. It’s a roadblock disguised as access to care for many patients. For years, they have been misle...

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...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on May 20, 2022May 16, 2022 by Abby McMillan

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In a recent survey of dentists done by the Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 71% had anxiety-related symptoms, 60% had depression-related symptoms, and 92% had symptoms of stress. Dentists working in the independent sector had more psychological symptoms compared with those in the public sector. Overall, 92% of the dentists were experiencing some form of psychological symptoms. We must bring awareness to these stat...

Dental Hygiene Student Discovers the Value of OralDNA® Testing

Posted on May 13, 2022May 13, 2022 by Kayla Rauschert, RDH

Challenge: To reduce periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity that are contributing to severe periodontal inflammation, improve oral malodor as reported by the patient and remove unsightly calculus buildup that is harboring oral pathogens. Introduction: In Fall of 2021, I had the pleasure of learning about OralDNA® Labs’ testing from my instructor Jamie Griggs of Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC). Before knowing anything about OralDNA® or how the process works, I wondered why...

Dental Hygiene Student Helps Manage Periodontal Disease Through MyPerioPath® Testing

Posted on May 6, 2022May 5, 2022 by Andrea Farago, RDH

Challenge: To reduce periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity that are contributing to severe periodontal inflammation and tissue sensitivity. Background: The patient is a 33-year-old female with a history of treatment for ovarian cancer. The patient presented with severely inflamed gingiva with generalized extreme heavy bleeding upon gentle probing. Upon touch, there was generalized sensitivity. For the patient’s home care routine, she states that she practices daily toothbrushing and in...

Interview with Madison Afsari, RDH

Posted on April 29, 2022April 26, 2022 by Madison Afsari RDH

Dr. McGlennen: Please tell me how and why you became interested to incorporate OralDNA® testing at your practice. Madison RDH: Our dental hygiene team wanted a way to determine exactly what type of bacteria our patients have in their mouths, so we can treat them the best way possible. Dr. McGlennen: What do you see as the biggest benefits to using salivary diagnostics in your practice? Madison RDH: The biggest benefit for us is being able to reduce patients' overall bacterial load i...