Dr. Ron McGlennen: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started in your profession. What is your driver to do what you do?
Dr. Rob Frey: I have a passion for blending esthetic dentistry, functional dentistry, and whole-body health. My journey into dentistry started with a desire to work in healthcare in a way that combined science, artistry, and meaningful human connection. I was drawn to the idea that dentistry allows you to not only restore health, but also confidence, comfort, and quality of life. Advanced training through the Kois Center and extensive continuing education shaped how I think about risk assessment, prevention, and the connection between oral health and systemic wellness. What drives me is helping patients understand the why behind their health, catching disease earlier, and creating care that is personalized rather than reactive. At the core of it, I love combining precision, innovation, and hospitality to create an experience where patients feel genuinely cared for while achieving exceptional outcomes.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: What has been the biggest benefit to salivary testing in your practice?
Dr. Rob Frey: The biggest benefit to salivary testing in my practice has been shifting dentistry from reactive to truly preventive and personalized care. Instead of waiting until disease is clinically obvious—or worse, symptomatic—salivary diagnostics give us an earlier window into why a patient is breaking down.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: What are the top two factors you consider when selecting a patient for testing?
Dr. Rob Frey: I, personally, believe that EVERYONE should get tested. You don’t know what you don’t know. Ask your provider to get tested so you know what kind of oral microbiome you have and have them assess your risk.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: Have you seen an increase in treatment acceptance and patient compliance since incorporating OralDNA®? If so, why do you think that is?
Dr. Rob Frey: It is objective data. This becomes the ‘hit man’ as John Kois would say, and I become the ‘healer’. Sometimes patients don’t understand what is going on in their mouth, but when we show them the results, patients are immediately interested in how their oral biome is connected to the rest of the body.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: How has incorporating salivary diagnostics into your practice impacted your team’s morale and/or confidence?
Dr. Rob Frey: It’s objective. It helps hygienists feel confident in their work and delivering quality care. They have metrics now that they can see.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: Can you describe a time when OralDNA results led to a diagnosis or treatment plan that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise?
Dr. Rob Frey: OralDNA gives me a puzzle piece that helps me understand what is going on. Celsus One has been instrumental in understanding the patient’s immune system function and personalizing their care based off of the findings.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: If a new OralDNA provider were to ask you for advice, what would be your best tip?
Dr. Rob Frey: Just start. Verbiage is important. I like to tell patients that this test is like getting a blood test at the doctors. It will help me understand what is going on in their mouth. I also stress that bleeding is not normal. If I touched your skin and you were bleeding out, you would be going to the ER – same thing. If we see bleeding, there is something going on and we need to dig deeper.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: What kind of impact do you think widespread adoption of salivary diagnostics could have on the future of healthcare (both medical and dental)?
Dr. Rob Frey: Widespread adoption of salivary diagnostics could fundamentally shift healthcare from reactive disease management to predictive, preventive, and personalized care. In dentistry, it means earlier detection of caries, periodontal disease, and oral pathogens before irreversible damage occurs. In medicine, saliva offers a noninvasive window into inflammation, hormonal health, infectious disease, immune function, and potentially systemic disease biomarkers.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: How were you introduced to OralDNA salivary diagnostics, and what motivated you to incorporate it into your practice?
Dr. Rob Frey: I was introduced to OralDNA by Dr. Doug Thompson at the Kois Center. When I learned about it, it was like a ‘lightbulb’ went on. We, as dentists, have been operating in the blind and doing non-surgical periodontal treatment without knowing how effective they were. Now, we can test before and after to see what impact it had on the patient’s oral biome.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: How do you currently use salivary diagnostics in your practice?
Dr. Rob Frey: We currently use it for all periodontal patients and any patients that I need more information on. I like to say the salivary diagnostic test is my other puzzle piece that helps me put the whole picture together.
- Virtual Interview with Dr. Rob Frey - June 19, 2026