Do You Truly Believe in Prevention?

Posted on December 8, 2023December 6, 2023 by Michael Goldberg DMD

Most health professionals would say “of course.” But is “belief” enough? How does belief translate into action? Do you keep score? Let’s look at some of the more common preventive strategies. How does your practice rate? Here’s the scorecard: How does your practice perform? A score of less than 22-27 indicates that you have a great opportunity to improve the health of your patients and improve the bottom line of your practice. Why wouldn’t one minimally offer all of the...

Saved by the Mouth is Here!

Posted on December 1, 2023November 30, 2023 by Katie Lee DDS

I’m excited to announce the release of my very first book, Saved by the Mouth! Sparked by my own medical experiences (I’ll tell you more about that in a second), I wrote Saved by the Mouth with the hope that it would be a necessary wake-up call about oral systemic health, push the boundaries of traditional dentistry and how dentists truly care for their patients, and encourage the public to be more proactive of not only their oral health, but their overall health. At the age of 14, I was ...

Gratitude Beyond the Feast

Posted on November 24, 2023November 22, 2023 by Abby McMillan

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday marked by a feast. The Thanksgiving season invites us to pause, take a breath, and acknowledge the blessings that often go unnoticed in our day to day lives. Our team at OralDNA® Labs is grateful for each and every one of you and for your dedication to advancing patient care through salivary diagnostics. This Thanksgiving, we want to extend our thanks for your trust in our services and for allowing us to be a part of your commitment to your patients’ ...

How Do You Speak Joint/Musculoskeletal Health and Periodontal Disease To Your Patients?

Posted on November 17, 2023November 16, 2023 by Jill Wade DDS, MAGD

Dr. McGlennen: Like periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition. But unlike periodontitis, where the genesis of the inflammation is the complex infections in the gingival sulcus, the cause of RA is unknown. Recent studies, however, provide insights that, in part, oral bacteria play a role in evoking an abnormal immune response that then leads to joint disease. In a recent meta-analysis of 21 separate studies, there was a significantly increased risk of period...

Interview with Robert Benavides DDS

Posted on November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 by Robert Benavides DDS

Dr. McGlennen: What are the top two things to consider when you select a patient for testing? Robert Benavides DDS: It's crucial to evaluate both the Dental and Medical histories to understand their intricate interplay in the Mouth-Body Connection®. Our goal is to analyze how these histories manifest in our patient’s tissues. Utilizing objective testing data helps us discern deeper insights and offer more accurate and personalized treatment. Dr. McGlennen: What are the biggest benefits to usi...

OralDNA® Labs’ Consultation and Clinical Coaching Services

Posted on November 3, 2023November 3, 2023 by Amanda Seaton, B.S.

With our network of OralDNA® providers growing every day, we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce our Director of Clinical Education, Diane Larson, RDH, BSDH to our new providers. Diane is an essential asset to our team and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She has over 20 years of dental experience and is a member of the ADHA and MnDHA. Although she is no longer providing patient care chair side, her passion is helping clinicians provide a higher quality of care for their patients ...

Transmissible Bacteria Between Spouses

Posted on October 27, 2023October 27, 2023 by Carey Duraiappa RDH

Challenge: My patient was very concerned about passing bacteria to his wife and young daughter. Background: Patient knew he had periodontal issues and was informed that he would likely need to see a periodontist. Patient: Age: 36 Sex: M Medical History: Essential hypertension Last Dental Exam: 6 months to a year Home Care: Good home care Chief Complaint: Needs cleaning, had been told he may need to see periodontist Other Notes: Reports increased stress over la...

The Journey to Becoming a Complex Care Hygienist

Posted on October 20, 2023December 20, 2023 by Sandy Sheffler RDH

My name is Sandy Sheffler, and I have been a registered dental hygienist in the State of Maryland since 1973. For the last 45 years, I have been very fortunate to work in very progressive dental offices. In 1988, I was introduced to Dr. Paul Keyes, dental researcher and director of the National Institute of Dental Research and the developer of the Keyes Technique – a 7 step system to periodontal health. He was among the first dentists to associate pathogenic bacteria with dental diseases. Th...

An Introduction to the History of Clinical Laboratory Testing

Posted on October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

Clinical laboratory testing isn’t something newly developed in the era of the COVID pandemic. You have been a patient throughout your life, and I can guarantee there has been a laboratory test performed on you at least once, if not every time you are seen by a medical doctor. Hippocrates, in early 300 BC, was noted to use rudimentary tests on human fluids. However, just over a century ago the first clinical laboratories appeared in modern countries such as the United Kingdom and the United S...

Consumer-Friendly Lab Reports

Posted on October 6, 2023October 5, 2023 by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA

Clinical lab reports have come a long way since their inception. In the past, lab reports were typically written for healthcare professionals. They often contained medical jargon and technical terms that were difficult for patients to understand. However, with the advent of new technology as well as the increasing importance of patient-centered healthcare, the trend towards more consumer-friendly lab reports has emerged. One key factor triggering the trend towards consumer-friendly lab re...