case study

Throwback: How Do You Speak Testing?

Posted on by Leslie I. Bautista RDH
A common question of everyone doing something for the first time is “How?” Clinical laboratory testing is standard of care in the medical profession and while completing their degrees, our medical colleagues learned the “How.” For dental professionals, clinical laboratory testing is a newer concept. Clinical lab testing in dentistry marks a paradigm shift. We hope this series “How to Speak” provides insights into how to talk with your patients about optimal care. The guest author has been gi...
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When Saliva Tells the Full Story

Posted on by Stephen Quimby, RDH, BSDH, MBA
We all have those patients — the ones who seem to do everything right and still end up battling stubborn periodontal disease. As Stephen Quimby, RDH, BSDH, MBA, writes in his recent Monthly Incisor article, “We’ve all had those patients—the ones who come in with picture-perfect oral hygiene but somehow still develop aggressive periodontal disease. Then, six months later, their spouse shows up with similar symptoms. Coincidence? Not quite.” That’s where salivary diagnostics is changing the...
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Throwback: Chronic Anterior Inflammation

Posted on by Daniela Yanez RDH
Challenge: The patient’s main concern was to reduce chronic inflammation around tooth #8 and #9. The patient previously had received treatment at a general dentist and a periodontist without significant improvement. Background: A new female patient, age 28, was last seen by another dentist about 3 years prior. Her home care consists of brushing twice daily with Tom’s of Maine® toothpaste and a Sonicare™ power toothbrush, and Crest® Pro-Health™ rinse with occasional flossing. Her family hi...
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Saving Teeth, Avoiding Implants: Dr. Lee Sheldon’s Strategic Approach to Aggressive Periodontitis

Posted on by Lee Sheldon DMD PA
When a 41-year-old woman came into Dr. Lee Sheldon’s office complaining of loose teeth and pain on both sides of her mouth, many would have jumped straight to extractions and implants. But Dr. Sheldon took a different approach: practical, conservative, and rooted in restoring function—not just filling spaces. “This is not just about saving a tooth,” says Dr. Sheldon. “It’s about reversing the stresses—bacterial, occlusal—and giving her back long-term function without implants.” Upon cl...
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Oral Care Probiotics and Periodontal Health: A Clinical Case Study

Posted on by Dr. Rachelle Beattie
How ProBiora Probiotics Turned Around a Severe Periodontal Case Periodontal disease can be notoriously difficult to treat, especially when it persists despite traditional and advanced therapies. This case study highlights how oral care probiotics, specifically ProBiora products, helped resolve a severe periodontal condition when other traditional methods failed. Patient Background A 52-year-old patient presented with a history of moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. Symptoms included b...
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Revolutionizing Periodontal Disease Screening and Treatment with OFC and Alert 2™ Diagnostics

Posted on by Robert Benavides DDS
In the evolving field of dental diagnostics, early detection is the key to effective management of periodontal disease. One of the latest advances in our practice is the utilization of OFC (Oral Fitness Check) by DentoGnostics, a groundbreaking tool that allows us to screen for active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8). The presence of aMMP-8 signals ongoing collagen breakdown, providing valuable insight into the health of the periodontal tissues. When detected, this makes our providers cur...
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Dr. Benavides: “Did We Overtreat: The Value of Proactive Intervention for the Periodontal Patient.”

Posted on by Robert Benavides DDS
Disambiguating between Plaque-Induced Gingivitis and Stage II Periodontitis is an easy diagnostic feat. The difficulty increases when we attempt to finalize a diagnosis between Gingivitis and Early-Onset Periodontitis. As a reminder, according to The American Academy of Periodontology, it takes 15% of radiographic bone loss (RBL) for our patients to land at Stage I Periodontitis. The goal of this article is to present you with two cases that could be interpreted as borderline. Our goa...
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Class II Generalized Periodontitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Requesting Implant Placement

Posted on by Patricia Lugo DMD
Challenge: To establish periodontal remission by addressing the clinical manifestations of periodontal disease and altering the oral flora in order to lower the incidence of periodontal disease relapse. Bacterial management will eliminate a source of total body inflammation and increase success of implant placement. Background: The patient is a 66 year-old-male with rheumatoid arthritis, taking Lisinopril and is a potential candidate for implant to restore #19. Patient’s daily home care r...
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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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Transmissible Bacteria Between Spouses

Posted on by Carey Duraiappa RDH
Challenge: My patient was very concerned about passing bacteria to his wife and young daughter. Background: Patient knew he had periodontal issues and was informed that he would likely need to see a periodontist. Patient: Age: 36 Sex: M Medical History: Essential hypertension Last Dental Exam: 6 months to a year Home Care: Good home care Chief Complaint: Needs cleaning, had been told he may need to see periodontist Other Notes: Reports increased ­­­stress over la...
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