Patient Education

Children Get Gum Disease Too

Posted on by Barbara Tritz RDH
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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Redefining Dental Care for The Reluctant: Technology’s Role in the New Mouth-Body Connection Era

Posted on by Robert Benavides DDS
Challenge: Addressing the unique needs of a patient with a history of hesitancy towards dental care, compounded by complex health issues such as Tobacco Dependence Syndrome, Hypertension, and Prediabetes, presented a significant challenge. This task, however, was greatly facilitated by the integration of CBCT/OralDNA® technologies. These cutting-edge tools played a pivotal role in demystifying the pathos process, enabling a more clear and personalized approach to the patient's treatment plan....
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Interview with Rachel Kashani-Legler, RDH, RF, BSDH, MS

Posted on by Rachel Kashani-Legler, RDH, RF, BSDH, MS
Normandale Community College has a commitment to excellence in dental hygiene education and has been training their students on salivary diagnostics since 2010. We asked Rachel Kashani-Legler, RDH, RF, BSDH, MS, to share her insight into their program and how it has been affected by the introduction of salivary diagnostics: Diane Larson, RDH: What are the most significant changes or trends you've observed in salivary testing over the last 13 years? Rachel Kashani-Legler, RDH: It is truly ama...
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Systemic Inflammation, Elevated hs-CRP, and Oral Bacterial Pathogens Decrease After Two Years of Natural Dental Health Treatments: A Case Study

Posted on by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS, Ellie Campbell DO
Heart Disease Begins in the Mouth High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is the most clear, quantifiable, and readily accessible marker of the oral-systemic connection. We present a case study of an otherwise healthy 62-year-old woman with elevated hs-CRP who had abundant numbers of pathogenic oral bacteria. A natural dental health treatment over two years lowered hs-CRP and lowered oral pathogens. Given the links between oral disease, inflammation, and heart disease, it is wise to te...
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Hygienist Highlight: Baltimore Uptown Dentist

Posted on by Sherri Feldman RDH
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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Consumer-Friendly Lab Reports

Posted on by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA
Clinical lab reports have come a long way since their inception. In the past, lab reports were typically written for healthcare professionals. They often contained medical jargon and technical terms that were difficult for patients to understand. However, with the advent of new technology as well as the increasing importance of patient-centered healthcare, the trend towards more consumer-friendly lab reports has emerged. One key factor triggering the trend towards consumer-friendly lab re...
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Be the Guide, Not the Hero

Posted on by Debbie Ozment DDS MS, NBC-HWC, ABAAHP
We care deeply for our patient family and are oral-systemic experts.  Because we have invested enormous amounts of time and money in quality education, we know best what people need for strong teeth and a long health span.  Our patients appreciate this and always listen intently to what we tell them they need to do.  They happily reach into their wallets and hand us their credit card.  Right?  In my 34 years of clinical experience: Wrong!  People buy what they want, not necessarily what they nee...
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How Do You Speak Testing? With Karina Diaz, BASDH, CRDH

Posted on by Karina Diaz BASDH, CRDH
Patient Bio: A new patient, female, age 41 appointed to your practice. Upon medical history review, she is currently not taking any medications, only nutritional supplements recommended by her dietician. Her family history revealed her father has cardiovascular disease and sister has Type 2 diabetes. Completing the periodontal assessment identified: How would you introduce therapy including MyPerioPath® to this patient? (Patient) we understand that the health of our mouths and the heal...
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The Dynamic Duo: Benefits of Combining Oral and Gut Probiotics

Posted on by Walter Tatch DDS
Keeping an eye on our oral and digestive health is crucial for sustaining a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that oral probiotics can have a big impact on your general well-being? They can! Scientists, medical professionals, and dentists alike are learning more about the advantages of taking probiotics for gut health. With their Probiotics Kit, StellaLife® offers you the ideal blend of intestinal and oral probiotics, enhancing your health from the inside out. We'll talk about the benefits of ...
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How Do You Speak Testing? With Emily McCleary, RDH

Posted on by Emily McCleary RDH
Patient Bio: Your 54-year-old female patient of record has been absent from your practice for 5 years. At the last appointment in 2018, this patient was going through a divorce, and it was recommended that the patient receive periodontal therapy. Now, the patient is emotionally and physically ready to address any concerns as she is caretaker for her mother who has Alzheimer’s. She is taking medication for blood pressure and fluctuating hormones. She does express an occasional bout of brain fog. ...
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