Empowering Patients: The Game-Changing Benefits of Alert 2™

While we’ve found the Alert 2™ test extremely useful for hygienists and dentists, in my experience I’ve found that ultimately the patient has the greatest benefit from the test results. Many patients may not fully grasp the impact of bacteria on their oral and systemic health or hold preconceived notions that may be at odds with their diagnosis. And while we can explain the role of bacteria and genetic influence on their diagnosis, the Alert 2 report from OralDNA® has been a game changer for...
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Six Mouth Infections You Need to Get Rid of if You Have Heart Disease (Condensed Version)

Address Oral Health to Prevent Heart Attacks, Strokes, and High Blood Pressure When you ask most people, “What can you do to treat heart disease?” they will say diet and exercise. But how many people mention mouth bacteria at the top of the list for turning around heart disease? Even medical doctors rarely mention this as a top contributor to heart disease. While diet and exercise are critical, don’t overlook the sinister bacteria lurking in the mouth that cause gum infections and send the he...
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Interview with Sharmane Soriano, RDH

  Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you were introduced to OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Sharmane Soriano, RDH: I was introduced to OralDNA salivary diagnostics through the dental office I worked at. Just graduating from the dental hygiene program, OralDNA was something I was not familiar with. The Alert 2™ report gave accurate data of the patient’s oral health as it tests the types of bacteria, the amounts of bacteria, and the patient’s genetic risk of acquiring periodontal disease. Afte...
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Unlocking Saliva Secrets: Combatting Dry Mouth with OralDNA® Testing

In our daily lives, the significance of saliva is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in our overall health. Saliva is more than just a means to keep our mouths moist, it is a vital component in protecting against viruses and bacteria, aiding in digestion, and even influencing our taste and speech. About 10% of the general population and 25% of older adults experience dry mouth AKA xerostomia, which impacts not just oral health but quality of life. Dry mouth occurs when there...
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The Necessity of Two Patient Specific Identifiers

All healthcare industries strive for safety and quality control, especially when handling patient information. With the OralDNA® ordering process, some may wonder why it is so important to have two matching patient specific identifiers on the OralDNA specimen and test requisition. In this week’s blog, we will share with you the importance of patient specific identifiers and how you can accurately identify your patients’ samples. According to the College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelin...
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Class II Generalized Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Requesting Implant Placement

Challenge: To establish periodontal remission by addressing the clinical manifestations of periodontal disease and altering the oral flora in order to lower the incidence of periodontal disease relapse. Bacterial management will eliminate a source of total body inflammation and increase success of implant placement. Background: The patient is a 66 year-old-male with rheumatoid arthritis, taking Lisinopril and is a potential candidate for implant to restore #19. Patient’s daily home care r...
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Children Get Gum Disease Too

Parents always ask me, “Does my child have any cavities?” What I also want parents to wonder and ask; “Does my child have gum disease?” People - parents - don’t know what they don’t know! Too often, we dismiss a “little bleeding” or calculus buildup in children (never mind adults) as poor oral hygiene and admonish them to brush and floss. Yet, without addressing the root causes, this inflammation does not resolve. Evolve your practice: look deeper into bleeding gums in children and ...
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Hygienist Highlight: Baltimore Uptown Dentist

Can you briefly describe your experience and background as a dental hygienist? I have been a hygienist for almost 40 years and have been working with a phase contrast microscope for the last 25 years. Using the microscope has helped me view the mouth’s connection to whole health. What motivated you to become a dental hygienist? I love smiles and want to help people have the healthiest mouth possible. Now, it’s a healthy mouth and body! How do you stay updated on the latest dental hyg...
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Gratitude Beyond the Feast

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

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...
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