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 ...

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...

The Transformative Power of Salivary Diagnostics in Dentistry for Personalized Care in the Mouth-Body Connection Era

Posted on September 15, 2023September 13, 2023 by Robert Benavides DDS

There's an age-old saying, "Change is the only constant." In the field of dentistry, we've seen many evolutions, from the tools we use to the methods we apply. One such evolution that had a deep impact on our practice is the introduction of salivary diagnostics. At first glance, like many others, we considered this technology to be disruptive. Yet, upon deeper reflection and application, it has woven seamlessly into our clinical culture, enhancing patient care and experience. Periodontal dise...

Salivary Diagnostics: The Frontier Uniting Medical and Dental Professionals

Posted on September 8, 2023September 7, 2023 by Jamie Dooley RDH BIS

Your saliva has a story to tell about your health. The oral microbiome can alter the balance between health and disease, locally and systemically. Within the oral cavity, bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses may all be found, each having a particular role, but strongly interacting with each other and with the host, in sickness or in health. Early diagnosis of disease, quantification of disease, and prognosis of the treatment are vital steps in controlling and preventing the diseas...

Unlocking the Power of Oral Salivary Testing Through Patient Experiences

Posted on August 18, 2023August 3, 2023 by Claire Cooper-Bodtke - Lauren Tancredi

In the ever-evolving healthcare field, staying at the forefront of diagnostic innovations is paramount for medical practices. Oral salivary testing has emerged as a groundbreaking tool that can revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat patients. Empowering doctors and patients alike, oral salivary testing is a way to provide more personalized and effective care. Salivary testing has emerged as a powerful tool that Medicava recommends for providing valuable insights into patients' heal...

The Oral Microbiome and Autoimmunity

Posted on May 5, 2023May 2, 2023 by Akil Palanisamy MD

The oral microbiome is made up of a diverse array of microorganisms that reside in the mouth. A sample of this diverse array can be collected by a simple oral rinse and gargle and specific microorganisms are identified by q-PCR analysis. Knowing this information can help clinicians better understand and potentially manage triggers for numerous autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, leading to chronic inflam...

What Our Patients Should Know About Oral Cancer & HPV

Posted on April 7, 2023April 3, 2023 by Shelley Brown MEd BSDH RDH

There are over 100 types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and more than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that cause disease. The CDC says nearly everyone will get a form of HPV at some point in their lives, and about 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year1. There are strains of HPV that are more virulent than others which divides HPV into 2 main groups: Low-risk HPV types such as 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44 have a reduced association with cancer but can ...

Interview with Dr. Alex Vasserman DMD

Posted on March 31, 2023March 29, 2023 by Alex Vasserman DMD

Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you were introduced to OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Alex Vasserman DMD: I learned about the OralDNA® labs testing system through Doug Thompson, DDS at the Kois Center. Our hygiene department started using it 3 years ago, and they have made it a success. Dr. McGlennen: What are the top two things to consider when you select a patient for testing? Alex Vasserman DMD: Compliance is key- will the patient follow through with the prescribed treatment and what ...

Getting to the Root Cause: OralDNA® Testing and Natural Products that Help

Posted on March 17, 2023March 15, 2023 by Heather Paul CBDH CRDH

As a practicing dental hygienist for over 25 years, I’ve been asked countless times what causes gum disease and what are the best products to use that actually help. This is a fantastic question, and I am so happy that technology has advanced enough to give patients a full understanding of the root cause of periodontal disease. We now know that there are primarily 11 microbes that cause periodontal disease. Knowing which bugs are present allows me to come up with an individualized oral care ...

How Do You Speak Testing? With Kim Ramos RDH & Ali Carr RDH

Posted on March 10, 2023August 14, 2024 by Kim Ramos RDH - Ali Carr RDH

Patient Bio: Your new female 39-year-old patient hasn’t been seen by a dentist since 2020. She was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic with elevated blood pressure. With her medical doctor’s approval, she is attempting to control or reverse her pre-diabetes and lower her blood pressure with diet and lifestyle changes. Her medical doctor recommended she have a dental exam. She is interested in fixing her crowded maxillary anterior teeth. Here are the findings of the periodontal assessment: ...