Root Canal Therapy

Posted on May 8, 2020May 20, 2021 by Kelly Blodgett DMD

“News flash! All root canal-treated teeth are infected!” If you are a licensed dentist or endodontist, that statement is likely to strike a nerve. Without question, our scientific understanding of bacterial infectious diseases in the oral microbiome has progressed more than ever in recent years. Testing services such as OralDNA® Labs, aid us by analyzing the pathogens living in the oral environment: I would call it a modern wonder. With so much progress in oral health care, it would stand to...

Critical Thinking: The Systemic Antibiotic Option

Posted on April 24, 2020May 20, 2021 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

The MyPerioPath® test provides a wide variety of valuable information for the clinician to consider in the care of their patients. In one example, the Treatment Consideration section of the report provides a recommendation for a regimen of oral antibiotics when the test results show bacteria levels greater than the black lines, called the therapeutic threshold. Where did this recommendation come from? This choice of drug, along with the recommended doses, are based on published research of...

Interview with Brooke Armour, RDH

Posted on March 20, 2020May 20, 2021 by Brooke Armour RDH

Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Brooke RDH: I use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics to test new patients, patients that have clinical signs of periodontal disease, or patients with a complex medical history. Dr. McGlennen: What are the biggest benefits to using salivary diagnostics? Brooke RDH: The benefits of salivary diagnostics are being able to quantify periodontal disease, having something to physically show the patient about their periodontal dise...

How do you speak Pregnancy and Periodontal Disease with your patients?

Posted on March 13, 2020August 14, 2024 by Nancy Wahl RDH, BS MC

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. Further, the...

Interview with the Searcy Dental Team

Posted on March 6, 2020May 20, 2021 by Searcy Dental

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. Dr. McGlennen: What are the top two thing...

Soft Tissue Program with a Microscope & MyPerioPath®

Posted on February 28, 2020May 20, 2021 by Cori Creeks RDH

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 purchase...

Interview with Ryan McWhorter, MD

Posted on January 31, 2020May 20, 2021 by Ryan McWhorter MD

Dr. McGlennen: Please explain how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics in your functional medicine practice. Ryan McWhorter MD: I use OralDNA® Labs’ MyPerioPath® test when I suspect or know there are sources of inflammation. The lab results are part of the evaluation for coronary heart disease treatment, joint problems, cancer support, autoimmune reversal or problems in women's pelvic health, fertility or miscarriages. Dr. McGlennen: What is your primary consideration when selecting ...

Up Your Oral Health Game with Salivary Testing: Part 2

Posted on January 17, 2020May 20, 2021 by Barbara Tritz RDH

The Path of Pathogen Destruction Cardiovascular Disease We know that the oral pathogens Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Treponema denticola (Td), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) are directly connected to atherosclerosis.1 We know cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States. Gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes and aspiration pn...

Microbiology 101

Posted on January 3, 2020May 20, 2021 by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA

MyPerioPath® is a laboratory test widely used by health care professionals to screen for pathogens that cause both periodontal and systemic infections. The rich report provided to clinicians includes an easy to read histogram showing the types and quantities of 11 specific periodontal pathogens detected from a simple saliva sample. Two frequent questions about MyPerioPath®’s histogram will be discussed in this week’s blog. First, what is the full name of each bacteria listed on each repor...

The Insights Provided by Salivary Testing

Posted on December 27, 2019May 20, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

Without salivary testing we have no way of knowing the cause of the periodontal disease in the patients under our care. The insights provided by salivary testing include: Identification of the causative bacteria Therapeutic endpoint Risk assessment Outcomes assessment Risk of recurrence Appropriate antibiotic Incorporating the information from the salivary bacterial test into the periodontal patient’s treatment plan enables personalized care. Forget the one-size-fit...