The Journey to Becoming a Complex Care Hygienist

Posted on October 20, 2023December 20, 2023 by Sandy Sheffler RDH

My name is Sandy Sheffler, and I have been a registered dental hygienist in the State of Maryland since 1973. For the last 45 years, I have been very fortunate to work in very progressive dental offices. In 1988, I was introduced to Dr. Paul Keyes, dental researcher and director of the National Institute of Dental Research and the developer of the Keyes Technique – a 7 step system to periodontal health. He was among the first dentists to associate pathogenic bacteria with dental diseases. Th...

An Introduction to the History of Clinical Laboratory Testing

Posted on October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 by Diane Larson RDH, BSDH

Clinical laboratory testing isn’t something newly developed in the era of the COVID pandemic. You have been a patient throughout your life, and I can guarantee there has been a laboratory test performed on you at least once, if not every time you are seen by a medical doctor. Hippocrates, in early 300 BC, was noted to use rudimentary tests on human fluids. However, just over a century ago the first clinical laboratories appeared in modern countries such as the United Kingdom and the United S...

The Transformative Power of Salivary Diagnostics in Dentistry for Personalized Care in the Mouth-Body Connection Era

Posted on September 15, 2023September 13, 2023 by Robert Benavides DDS

There's an age-old saying, "Change is the only constant." In the field of dentistry, we've seen many evolutions, from the tools we use to the methods we apply. One such evolution that had a deep impact on our practice is the introduction of salivary diagnostics. At first glance, like many others, we considered this technology to be disruptive. Yet, upon deeper reflection and application, it has woven seamlessly into our clinical culture, enhancing patient care and experience. Periodontal dise...

Salivary Diagnostics: The Frontier Uniting Medical and Dental Professionals

Posted on September 8, 2023September 7, 2023 by Jamie Dooley BIS CLC

Your saliva has a story to tell about your health. The oral microbiome can alter the balance between health and disease, locally and systemically. Within the oral cavity, bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses may all be found, each having a particular role, but strongly interacting with each other and with the host, in sickness or in health. Early diagnosis of disease, quantification of disease, and prognosis of the treatment are vital steps in controlling and preventing the diseas...

Be the Guide, Not the Hero

Posted on September 1, 2023August 28, 2023 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...

How Do You Speak Testing? With Karina Diaz, BASDH, CRDH

Posted on August 25, 2023August 24, 2023 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...

Unlocking the Power of Oral Salivary Testing Through Patient Experiences

Posted on August 18, 2023August 3, 2023 by Claire Cooper-Bodtke - Lauren Tancredi

In the ever-evolving healthcare field, staying at the forefront of diagnostic innovations is paramount for medical practices. Oral salivary testing has emerged as a groundbreaking tool that can revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat patients. Empowering doctors and patients alike, oral salivary testing is a way to provide more personalized and effective care. Salivary testing has emerged as a powerful tool that Medicava recommends for providing valuable insights into patients' heal...

The Oral Mycobiome: How Fungi in Our Mouths Help or Hurt Us (Condensed Version)

Posted on July 28, 2023July 31, 2023 by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS

Fungus is a normal, natural inhabitant of the oral microbiome. Candida is the most well-known oral fungus. Sometimes called “yeasts,” Candida lives in people’s mouths, intestines, and on their skin. One in two adults has Candida species living in their mouth.4 In small to moderate amounts, it is normal and does not cause a problem as long as the immune system is in good working order. However, Candida can get out of balance for people at risk. Certain factors make a person more likely to have Ca...

The Importance of the Prevention and Treatment of Dental Disease for Overall Health

Posted on July 14, 2023July 11, 2023 by Debby Hamilton MD MPH IFMCP

Oral diseases, including dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease, and tooth loss, are some of the most prevalent diseases worldwide.1 Oral disease is preventable by identifying and treating the issues contributing to dental disease. The digestive tract has been a primary focus for treatment in integrative medicine because of its contribution to immune function and chronic disease. The mouth is the top of the digestive tract, where an imbalance can also lead to systemic health issues. ...

RDH Hero LLC: Ozonated Water

Posted on June 23, 2023June 22, 2023 by Miranda Adams RDH

Ozonated water contains three oxygen molecules, making it a highly powerful natural disinfectant. There are a few ways Ozonated water can be made, but the safest and easiest method is with an electrolytic generator which runs electricity through regular tap water. Ozonated water kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in seconds, and is highly oxidated, which makes it great for healing. It works about 3,000 times faster than other disinfectants. Ozonated water is safe for the environment because it ...