oral systemic connection

RDH Spotlight: Mohini Patel

Posted on by Mohini Patel
Dr. McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it? Mohini: I pursued a career in dental hygiene because I was drawn to having a career involved in directly helping patients improve their daily habits and long-term health. I enjoy working directly with patients, am detail-oriented, and have a strong interest in periodontal care. The most rewarding aspect is empowering patients to feel more confident about themselves as well as...
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Unexplained Infertility, Explained?

Posted on 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...
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Throwback: Light the Flame of Awareness

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

Posted on 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...
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Wellness Dentistry Summit 2025 – Livestream Virtual Ticket

Posted on by Nicki Mackey
  December 5–6, 2025 | Virtual Hosted by The Wellness Dentist Institute, the Wellness Dentistry Summit 2025 is your chance to learn, grow, and connect with the leaders driving the future of wellness-focused dental care. Whether you’re advancing your clinical skills, refining your business strategy, or looking to empower your team, this event is designed to equip you with actionable insights you can implement immediately. This sought after event has already sold out for in perso...
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Extraordinary Periodontal Therapy – Raising the Bar

Posted on by Judy Carroll, RDH
Are you ready for significant change in periodontal therapy and clinical dental hygiene? Outspoken clinical pioneer Judy Carroll, RDH, introduces revolutionary techniques in periodontal regeneration, as well as crucial integrative methods for more targeted and preventative care long term. Peek into the future with a demonstration of many “hopeless”cases treated by utilizing definitive clinical strategies, including periodontal endoscopy, regenerative proteins, host modulated therapy, salivar...
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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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Do We Really Need Antibiotics for Periodontal Disease?

Posted on by Lee Sheldon DMD PA
When patients receive their OralDNA® MyPerioPath® test results, one of the most common questions is: “Why aren’t we prescribing antibiotics?” After all, the test identifies bacteria linked to periodontal (gum) disease. Shouldn’t antibiotics be the next step? Dr. Lee Sheldon explains that the answer often goes back to the root cause of periodontal disease itself. “Periodontal disease is the loss of support for the teeth. It comes primarily from bacteria that go below the gum line and lo...
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Throwback: Communication is Key

Posted on by Traci Warner, RDH
Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases in the United States and it is a key indicator of other systemic diseases.  Dentistry has a significant role in reducing the impact of chronic disease in patients who trust their dental teams to guide them to total body health.  From the first call and through every step of the patient experience, such as reviewing the medical history, the conversation should include the oral systemic connection. Dental teams a...
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