In Part 1 of this series, Dr. Michael Goldberg urged dental professionals to return to their scientific roots and rethink their diagnostic habits. Now, in Part 2, he turns his attention to another critical gap in care: what happens once the patient leaves the chair.
Diagnosis without follow-through leaves patients—and practices—vulnerable. In this installment, Dr. Goldberg explores how to bridge that gap with personalized care, modern tools, and the right conversations that truly empower patients.
Bring back the science. Embrace diagnostics. Treat dentistry like the healthcare discipline it is—not just a mechanical trade.
The Drop-Off
As impressed as I was with Doogie Howser, MD, there was something missing.
Gout, like dental caries, is a disease impacted by diet. So nutritional compliance is key.
The rheumatologist’s “nutritional counseling” came in the form of a single page with lists of low-, medium-, and high-risk foods. No referral to a dietitian. No offer of a tracking app. No support at home.
It was like building a Ferrari and then handing over the keys with no driving instructions.
And it got me thinking…
How Are We Supporting Our Patients at Home?
We often do the same thing in dentistry. We diagnose, we treat, we educate—and then we hope for the best. But oral disease doesn’t clock out when the patient leaves the operatory.
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- Do we refer high-risk patients to nutritional coaches or online resources?
- Are we offering tailored home care plans based on diagnostic data?
- Do we leverage tech—like apps, portals, or virtual check-ins—to keep them on track?
- Are we empowering them with data from salivary diagnostics like OralDNA® to personalize their prevention?
If not, we’re just handing out a paper. And hoping they figure it out.
To build value with the educational component of your care, consider prefacing it with:
“There’s nothing we can do here that you can’t undo at home. So, please pay attention as this is the most valuable thing you can take away from our relationship.”
Consider having the session videoed or video your home care plan separately and give the patient a link to it on your YouTube or Vimeo channel.
Salivary Diagnostics: Your In-Office Crystal Ball
Let’s talk about what makes salivary diagnostics such a game-changer.
When it comes to dental caries and periodontal disease—two of the most common and costly conditions we treat—we are often still flying blind. We poke, probe, and chart bleeding points. But what if we could see the microbial battlefield itself?
With tools like OralDNA®, we can.
Salivary diagnostics let us:
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- Identify specific pathogens and risk profiles
- Personalize prevention and therapy
- Monitor progress biologically—not just visually
- Connect oral health to systemic inflammation and disease
This is dentistry catching up with medicine. It’s the shift from reactive to predictive, preventive, and personalized care.
“Will My Insurance Cover This?”
Ah yes—the moment of truth.
“Will my insurance cover it?”
Short version? No.
Better version? Let’s reframe the conversation entirely.
💬 Here’s What to Say
“Great question. Just so you know, Dental Benefits aren’t the same as Medical Insurance. In fact, they function more like a limited rebate program—they’re designed to offset basic costs, not to invest in long-term health.
What we’re recommending here isn’t just a test—it’s a tool that gives us a deeper understanding of why issues like cavities or gum disease are happening in the first place. Traditional exams show us what’s there. This shows us why it’s there—so we can be more targeted, more effective, and ideally save you time, money, and discomfort down the road.
It’s the kind of insight most benefit plans don’t cover—but it’s also the kind of insight that can help you avoid future procedures those same plans also won’t fully cover.
We believe in treating causes, not just symptoms. And that’s worth more than any short-term rebate.”
The Bottom Line
We didn’t enter healthcare to hand out band-aids. We’re trained to think critically, diagnose deeply, and treat thoroughly. Salivary diagnostics invite us back to that level of care—one where science meets strategy, and patients get and stay healthy.
Let’s stop flying blind.
Ready to Integrate Salivary Testing Into Your Practice?
The Liberated Practice trains dental professionals to go beyond the basics—leveraging the science of behavior, biology, and ethical influence to build modern, thriving practices.
Schedule a call today to learn how to implement OralDNA® testing and next-level patient education in your office.
We’ll help you elevate your care—and your confidence.
Because knowing is better than guessing. Every time.
Towards Smarter Healing,
Michael
Michael built a prestigious group practice in Manhattan where he focused on comprehensive, whole-body care. As he treated so many physicians, his colleagues dubbed him “The Doctor’s Dentist.”
He is a Fellow of the AGD, International Academy of Dental-Facial Esthetics, The New York Academy of Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, and a charter Fellow of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health.
Michael teaches practice management at Temple University and speaks nationally and internationally on a variety of subjects. He and Practice Perfect Systems are the official practice management consultants to the Spencer Study Club, their Business Elite Groups.
Michael has authored 3 books, including “What the Tooth Fairy didn’t Tell You”, “Beyond Ahh: A Guide For Physician’s” and “From Here To Where; a guide for dental practice success”. He’s recently had been the chief editor of a book on Sleep Dentistry written by 24 of North America’s finest dental sleep practitioners.
Michael is on the board of 3 charitable organizations that help provide care for the indigent and people with special needs around the world.
His mission: help people who help people help more people.
- Flying Blind: A Wake-Up Call – Part Two - July 11, 2025
- Flying Blind: A Wake-Up Call – Part One - June 27, 2025
- The Hidden Threat to Dental Implants: Why Ignoring Bacteria is a Risky Gamble – Part 2 - March 14, 2025