​Saliva Microbiome Testing: The Future of Dentistry is Here​

Close your eyes. Imagine a day when patients no longer avoid or complain about coming to your dental office. You no longer have empty appointment slots or patients not showing up for appointments. Instead, patients are seeking out your expertise because perhaps you hold the key to ending their chronic suffering and their ability to achieve optimum health. You don’t have to imagine this day because it has already arrived! The landscape of dental care is undergoing a transformative shift. Dent...
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Beyond Burnout: 5 steps to lead your hygiene team toward higher job satisfaction and retention

Every practice has that one person who steps up and helps out (without being asked), enjoys learning, and boosts the morale of the whole team. Chances are it is one of your hygienists. The best RDHs to employ are those who go the extra mile; but if you don’t acknowledge their extra effort, they will move on to a setting that does.  There is a shift happening in dental hygiene, and if we aren’t prepared for it, we are going to fall so far behind that it will be challenging to catch up. As ...
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The Lagom Method: A Balanced Approach to Health

Health isn’t just about avoiding disease – it’s about thriving sustainably. As a dentist, public health advocate, and former professional athlete, I’ve learned that lasting well-being isn’t built on extremes, but rather on balance and consistency. In Swedish culture, we call this Lagom – "just the right amount." As part of The Lagom Method, I incorporate salivary diagnostics as part of the ”toolbox” to manage your health journey. The Lagom Method: A Habit-Based Approach Lagom is a phil...
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Unlock the Connection Between Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Disease: A Free Webinar

Unlock the Connection Between Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Disease: A Free Webinar
Are you ready to explore the latest advancements in oral-systemic health? Don’t miss "Periodontal Inflammation as a Driver of Systemic Disease," a free webinar hosted by Dental CE Academy in partnership with OralDNA® Labs. This webinar is designed to give providers an in-depth understanding of how periodontal inflammation impacts systemic health and how to incorporate the latest tools and strategies into practice. Course Summary While inflammation is an essential component of the body's im...
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Practicing Dental Medicine: The Partnership with a Clinical Laboratory

If you are reading this article, you were likely born in a country and era where medical testing is a routine part of healthcare. From birth, data collection begins with tracking weight and height, followed by simple blood tests to screen for potential concerns. As we progress through life, additional tests are conducted based on signs and symptoms, reflecting a reactive approach essential for treating existing conditions. On the other hand, some tests are used proactively to intercept disea...
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Collaboration Cures 2024: A Three-Day Convergence of Knowledge and Innovation

Collaboration Cures for 2024 promises an enriching three-day event filled with education and dialogue, featuring an array of distinguished talents. This year's lineup is particularly exciting, with the inclusion of Patrick McKeown, a renowned expert in his field. As my knowledge grows with the Buteyko breathing method and am becoming a certified practitioner, the discussions around airway and breathing are energizing. Pediatrics is going to be highly represented with talks about sleep, myofu...
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The Patient First Podcast: Dr. Bryan Laskin Interviews Diane Larson, RDH, BSDH

Dr. Bryan Laskin is a Minnesota dentist and tech entrepreneur on a mission to help solve the biggest problem in dentistry, the lack of data accessibility, through innovation, education, and standardization. Creator of Lake Minnetonka Dental, Upgrade Dental, Digital Nitrous, OperaDDS, Dental Standards Institute, and Co-Founder of Toothapps, Dr. Laskin is also an advisor and investor to many of the most progressive healthcare companies. He is the author of the Amazon best- selling books “Th...
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The Mouth-Mind Connection: How Oral Health Influences Brain Health: Part 2

Last week, in Part 1, we explored the significant connection between oral health and brain health, highlighting how bacteria in the mouth can contribute to diseases like dementia, and outlined the three main types of dementia: Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's. This week, in Part 2, we will delve deeper into the demographic that is most affected by dementia and strategies for prevention. Why Are Elderly Most Affected? As a patient’s cognitive ability declines, so does their ora...
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The Mouth-Mind Connection: How Oral Health Influences Brain Health: Part 1

The mind and the mouth are more connected than you might have thought, but hey, they are only a few inches away from one another. As we’ve talked about with previous diseases and conditions, our oral health is directly connected (through all those annoying bacteria) to the overall health of our bodies. And in the case of our brains, this means the bacteria in our mouths can significantly contribute to one of the most devastating diseases, dementia. Better oral health equals less bacteria, whi...
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How do you speak Dementia/Brain Health and Periodontal Disease with your patients?

Dr. McGlennen: Concerning dementia and brain health, recent medical studies point to poor oral health, and high levels of the bacteria in our gums with the increased risk to develop Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia1-3. Specifically, there is now evidence of the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid and it may be involved with the production of the abnormal proteins that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease4.  Additionally, the d...
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