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

Posted on May 1, 2026March 19, 2026 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: ...

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

Posted on April 24, 2026March 19, 2026 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...

The Oral–Gut–Cancer Connection: Why the Mouth Is a Gateway to Systemic Health

Posted on April 10, 2026April 9, 2026 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...

The Link Between RA and Periodontal Disease: Bidirectional Cycle/Shared Inflammation

Posted on March 27, 2026February 19, 2026 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: ...

Throwback: Oral Gut Connection Case Study with Medical Emphasis

Posted on February 20, 2026February 12, 2026 by Debbie Ozment DDS MS, NBC-HWC, ABAAHP

The Challenge: This apparently healthy, muscular college student was suffering from brain fog, alternating constipation and diarrhea, bloating, decreased appetite, and low energy. He reports having trouble concentrating, which is interfering with his work. He was referred to me by his mother, who attended my classes on Vitality. The Background: Age & Gender: 23-year-old Male Medical History: Insignificant; no chronic illnesses. No pharmaceutical medica...

Throwback: Why? What? How?

Posted on January 30, 2026January 29, 2026 by Michael Goldberg DMD

WHY?…WHAT?…HOW? This is a philosophy that is often taught in dental and hygiene schools: Diagnose, Treatment Plan, then Treat. And yet, immediately after this is taught, a focus is placed on learning treatment, or the HOW. And then upon graduation the focus also becomes on treatment and production. The diagnosis (WHY) and planning (WHAT) become secondary. They’re only an avenue to an end…Production, a means to an end. That’s where the money is. In a nutshell, that’s the problem with our...

Unexplained Infertility, Explained?

Posted on January 9, 2026January 8, 2026 by Dr. Neusha Najafi

Up to 30% of infertility cases remain classified as “unexplained” despite comprehensive reproductive evaluation. While this label often implies idiopathic dysfunction, it may instead reflect the limitations of current diagnostic frameworks, especially those that overlook chronic inflammation and microbial dysbiosis as contributors to reproductive failure. Emerging evidence suggests that oral health, systemic inflammation, and shared microbial exposure between partners may play a meaningfu...

Update to MyPerioPath® Antibiotic Options: What You Need to Know

Posted on January 2, 2026January 20, 2026 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

An updated MyPerioPath® Antibiotics Guide is now in effect following our most recent clinical review. These periodic reviews are an essential part of our commitment to evidence-based care, ensuring the recommendations outlined in the report reflect the most current evidence and published literature. As a result, you may notice minor adjustments in some of the antibiotic options recommended, intended to support effective treatment while promoting thoughtful, responsible use. In particular...

Throwback: Light the Flame of Awareness

Posted on December 26, 2025December 11, 2025 by Brittany Hill RDH

Incorporating OralDNA® testing into our practice has been a game changer. It finally gives us, the clinicians, an advantage when getting ahead of this progressive disease–periodontal disease. The research is mounting, periodontal pathogens do not just exist in your oral cavity; the bacteria can enter the bloodstream through inflamed periodontal tissue. Hence, the mouth is connected to the body and so are the pathogens. It is all linked. Now with MyPerioPath® results to show what periodontal ...

Throwback: How Do You Speak Testing? With Janice Kaeley DDS, MSD

Posted on December 19, 2025December 16, 2025 by Janice Kaeley DDS, MSD

Patient Background: A 41-year-old female patient is seen for a new patient exam. Her last dental appointment was 10 months ago. Today her primary concern is occasional bleeding gums with brushing. Currently, there are no medical conditions reported and no medications or supplements reported. The patient indicated she may be experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms, but this is not confirmed by a medical doctor. Upon dental examination, generalized 4mm to 6mm pockets were revealed with generaliz...