Most of My Career, I Measured the Wrong Thing (And How OralDNA Forced Me to Change My Scorecard) – Part Two

Posted on by Jonathan Evans
Last week, we explored the awakening that comes from seeing the unseen. This week, Jonathan dives into the hard truth: a technically perfect Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) doesn’t always equal success. We’ll see how embracing an outcome-focused mindset changes not just the approach to care, but the results and the satisfaction hygienists and patients alike experience. The Hard Truth: Great SRP With Bad Outcomes Is Not a Win This is where my mindset truly flipped. I had to admit to myself: ...
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Most of My Career, I Measured the Wrong Thing (And How OralDNA Forced Me to Change My Scorecard) – Part One

Posted on by Jonathan Evans
For most of my 32 years as a hygienist, my “success” lived in my treatment notes. How many quads of Scaling and Root planing (SRP) did I do this week? How much calculus did I remove? How clean did those roots look and feel when I finished? If I walked out of a room drenched in sweat with polished roots and detailed charting, I felt like I’d done my job. Box checked. Next patient. But there was always this low-level itch in the back of my mind: If I’m doing such great work, why do...
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How Did They Do That?

Posted on by Michael Goldberg DMD
I was at dinner with my friends from OralDNA Labs — Amanda and Diane — talking about stories from my book Undeniable Hospitality. Little did we know, we were about to live one. The setting was spectacular — the kind of architectural beauty you might expect in the Museum of Modern Art. Elegant. Minimal. Intentional. But ambiance alone doesn’t create magic. The servers were polished. Smiling. Attentive. I did notice that no one introduced themselves by name — a miss in my world, be...
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The Oral–Gut–Cancer Connection: Why the Mouth Is a Gateway to Systemic Health

Posted on by Tabatha Pittman, PA-C
Emerging research confirms that the oral cavity is not biologically isolated from the rest of the body. The mouth serves as a primary gateway to the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, continuously introducing microbes, inflammatory signals, and immune-modulating compounds into systemic circulation. Each day, approximately 1–1.5 liters of saliva containing oral bacteria is swallowed, creating a direct microbial bridge between the oral microbiome and gut microbiome. This oral–gut axi...
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Oral HPV in Clinical Practice: Screening, Risk, and Early Detection

Posted on by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month – a timely reminder that HPV is the leading factor and part of the cause of oral cancers, with about 70% of cases linked to the virus.(1) This marks a shift from the historical focus on tobacco and alcohol abuse as the cause. Today, understanding oral HPV transmission, persistence, and testing is an important stance in one's ability to provide cutting edge patient care. How Is Oral HPV Transmitted? Oral HPV is a common virus that can be transmitted t...
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The Link Between RA and Periodontal Disease: Bidirectional Cycle/Shared Inflammation

Posted on by Dr. Jinita Parekh
The Challenge: A 29 year old female patient came in extremely concerned with her bleeding gums and wondering if that is also related to her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The Background: Age: 29 Sex: Female Medical History: Elevated Rheumatoid factor and undergoing further diagnosis to conclude diagnosis for RA  Last Dental Exam: 2021 Home Care: Manual toothbrush 2x daily, floss occasionally Chief Complaint: bleeding gums, sensitive gums Clinical Assessment: ...
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Throwback: Oral Health Contributing to Health Issues

Posted on by Sarah Tevis, DDS
Challenge: Due to dental anxiety, specifically the fear of being overwhelmed with dental problems, the patient finally took the necessary steps to address her chief complaint, “My gums are bleeding, and my teeth are sensitive. I want a more holistic approach to dental care. I feel like my mouth is contributing to my health issues.” Background: Age: 37 Sex: Female Medical History: Severe eczema since childhood, long term topical and systemic steroid for skin has resulted in s...
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RDH Spotlight: Oanh Pham, CPhT, RDH, BSDH

Posted on by Oanh Pham, CPhT, RDH, BSDH
Dr. McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it? Oanh: I’ve always had a strong passion for helping others and initially pursued a career in nursing. Over time, I realized a career in dental hygiene has a better work life balance while still allowing me to make meaningful impacts on patients’ overall health. What I find most rewarding is knowing that my role goes beyond oral health. By treating periodontal disease, I’m also...
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Medical Dental Collaboration for 2026

Posted on by Patti DeMatteis, RDH, AS
Healthcare outcomes often suffer due to "siloed" practices. While the average patient may see five to eight different providers concurrently, they frequently fail to achieve optimal health because those providers are not working together. Congratulations, OralDNA testers on diagnosing and managing periodontal disease using objective salivary diagnostics. With an effective protocol in place, you are likely seeing a significant reduction in pathogens for most patients. However, when results...
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RDH Spotlight: Heidy Esperansa Garcia, RDH

Posted on by Heidy Esperansa Garcia, RDH
Dr. McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it? Heidy: Growing up, I had the most amazing relationship with my dental office, and it started with my dental hygienist. She was kind, knowledgeable, and made each visit feel comfortable, which sparked my interest in dental care. I loved the idea of being able to help people feel confident about their smiles and promote overall health, so I decided to pursue a career in dental ...
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