The Time Is Now: Halftime

Posted on July 19, 2024July 19, 2024 by Michael Goldberg DMD

“Timing is everything” was made popular by none other than the bard himself, William Shakespeare in “Julius Caesar.” How apropos! Half the year is over. Now is the perfect time to step back and reassess. It’s also the perfect time to evaluate new opportunities. The issue of cognitive decline is front and center in the public’s eyes for obvious reasons. I’m sure sales of Prevagen® have skyrocketed. That’s why NOW is the time to discuss this with your patients and referral sour...

Collaboration Cures 2024: A Three-Day Convergence of Knowledge and Innovation

Posted on July 12, 2024July 2, 2024 by Anne O. Rice

Collaboration Cures for 2024 promises an enriching three-day event filled with education and dialogue, featuring an array of distinguished talents. This year's lineup is particularly exciting, with the inclusion of Patrick McKeown, a renowned expert in his field. As my knowledge grows with the Buteyko breathing method and am becoming a certified practitioner, the discussions around airway and breathing are energizing. Pediatrics is going to be highly represented with talks about sleep, myofu...

The Mouth-Mind Connection: How Oral Health Influences Brain Health: Part 2

Posted on May 31, 2024May 30, 2024 by Katie Lee DDS

Last week, in Part 1, we explored the significant connection between oral health and brain health, highlighting how bacteria in the mouth can contribute to diseases like dementia, and outlined the three main types of dementia: Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's. This week, in Part 2, we will delve deeper into the demographic that is most affected by dementia and strategies for prevention. Why Are Elderly Most Affected? As a patient’s cognitive ability declines, so does their ora...

The Mouth-Mind Connection: How Oral Health Influences Brain Health: Part 1

Posted on May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 by Katie Lee DDS

The mind and the mouth are more connected than you might have thought, but hey, they are only a few inches away from one another. As we’ve talked about with previous diseases and conditions, our oral health is directly connected (through all those annoying bacteria) to the overall health of our bodies. And in the case of our brains, this means the bacteria in our mouths can significantly contribute to one of the most devastating diseases, dementia. Better oral health equals less bacteria, whi...

How do you speak Dementia/Brain Health and Periodontal Disease with your patients?

Posted on May 3, 2024May 3, 2024 by Steven Ritzi DDS

Dr. McGlennen: Concerning dementia and brain health, recent medical studies point to poor oral health, and high levels of the bacteria in our gums with the increased risk to develop Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia1-3. Specifically, there is now evidence of the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid and it may be involved with the production of the abnormal proteins that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease4. Additionally, the d...

There Is More in The Head Than The Mouth

Posted on February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 by Angie Stone BS RDH

Many dental professionals cut the body off just below the nose! However, research has connected systemic health to the many things below the mouth. The oral systemic link is real, and we all know that and salivary diagnostics helps us connect the dots. Dental professionals spend time educating patients about the links between oral health and heart health, diabetes, and preterm low birth weight babies, to name a few. And now research is connecting oral health to structures above the mouth…nam...

The Oral Systemic Connection: A Risk Reduction Approach

Posted on December 2, 2022November 18, 2022 by Anne O. Rice

I have greatly enjoyed being a dental hygienist for over 30 years. Something that still fascinates me is the oral health and whole-body health connections. As a constant student, I have studied bidirectional and causal relationships amongst oral pathogens and a host of chronic diseases. In fact, over two decades ago, the surgeon general spoke about periodontal disease effects, and we now know there are established associations to 57 adverse health conditions, associated with periodontal dise...

Oral Hygiene and Cognition By: Ram Rao, PhD

Posted on November 11, 2022November 10, 2022 by Rammohan Rao PhD

A nice, friendly smile is visually attractive and is also a sign of good oral hygiene practice and cognitive health. Numerous studies have found a close connection between poor oral hygiene and dementia. Studies have found that those with poor oral hygiene practices are at higher risk for dementia, and dementia patients are at higher risk for developing gum disease. Poor oral hygiene and inadequate nutrition are likely the primary drivers for the risk of gum disease in dementia patients, par...

Unlock the Secret to Successful Medical – Dental Collaboration

Posted on October 28, 2022December 1, 2022 by Geralyn Beers RDH BS FAAOSH

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is on the rise in the United States. Until now it has been thought to be a terminal disease with no cure. However, all that is changing with the development of a precision medicine method called ReCODE (Reversal of COgnitive DEcline). This cutting-edge method has been taught around the world to physicians & health coaches and now the dental team has an exciting opportunity to get involved. As the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., AD is the most common type...