Saliva Microbiome Testing: The Future of Dentistry is Here

Posted on April 18, 2025April 18, 2025 by Katie Lee DDS

Close your eyes. Imagine a day when patients no longer avoid or complain about coming to your dental office. You no longer have empty appointment slots or patients not showing up for appointments. Instead, patients are seeking out your expertise because perhaps you hold the key to ending their chronic suffering and their ability to achieve optimum health. You don’t have to imagine this day because it has already arrived! The landscape of dental care is undergoing a transformative shift. Dent...

The Lagom Method: A Balanced Approach to Health

Posted on March 28, 2025April 18, 2025 by Jessica Lederhausen

Health isn’t just about avoiding disease – it’s about thriving sustainably. As a dentist, public health advocate, and former professional athlete, I’ve learned that lasting well-being isn’t built on extremes, but rather on balance and consistency. In Swedish culture, we call this Lagom – "just the right amount." As part of The Lagom Method, I incorporate salivary diagnostics as part of the ”toolbox” to manage your health journey. The Lagom Method: A Habit-Based Approach Lagom is a phil...

Microbiology Terminology

Posted on July 19, 2019May 20, 2021 by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA

MyPerioPath® is a laboratory test that screens saliva for specific bacteria known to cause periodontal disease. Bacteria are often described using their scientific name, by categorizing as gram-negative or gram-positive, and by identifying their shape. These descriptors provide us with useful information about each bacteria. For example, it is plausible that motile bacteria are more resistant to localized treatment due to their ability to move away from areas where the environment does not ...

Interview with Adrian Fitts RDH & Gerald Smith DMD

Posted on September 28, 2018May 20, 2021 by Adrian Fitts RDH, BSDH

Dr. McGlennen: Tell me how you use OralDNA® salivary diagnostics. Adrian Fitts RDH & Dr. Gerald Smith: When we see a patient that isn’t “normal.” Many patients are routine with regard to their oral hygiene/plaque/calculus. The vast majority of patients respond to usual measures, debridement, and diligent oral hygiene. However, some patients don’t fit this. For example, we see a relatively “clean” mouth but we are finding increasing pocketing/bleeding. The OralDNA® tests are perfe...

Implants, Biofilm, & pH!

Posted on September 21, 2018October 27, 2021 by Susan Wingrove RDH, BS

Today, dental professionals need to look at professional maintenance in a whole new light. A paradigm shift in professional maintenance and home-care recommendations for patients with tooth-borne and implant-borne restorations is occurring. I would refer to this as ‘mixed bag’ patients with natural teeth, restorations, and implants. We see these ‘Mixed bag’ patient every day. An additional resource to provide the best maintenance would be The American College of Prosthodontists guidelines fo...

Gum Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on November 24, 2017May 19, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

In honor of National Alzheimer’s Month, enjoy this repost from 3/3/2017. A 2016 study published in PloS One1 examined the impact of periodontitis on the rate of cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sixty community dwelling patients with mild to moderate AD were cognitively assessed and blood samples were taken for detection and quantification of systemic inflammatory markers. Initial clinical assessments of periodontal health were conducted and the same assessme...

Patient Expectations in the Dental Office

Posted on April 28, 2017May 19, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

Most patients seem to have reasonable expectations of the care they receive from their dental providers. It is reasonable for our patients to expect us to provide the right amount of treatment for their dental needs- no more and no less, for a reasonable fee. For the majority of patients, the dental service most often received is of a periodontal nature, such as a prophylaxis or periodontal maintenance procedure. This generally occurs two to four times a year. Restorative treatments such as ...

Gum Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on March 3, 2017May 19, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

A 2016 study published in PloS One1 examined the impact of periodontitis on the rate of cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sixty community dwelling patients with mild to moderate AD were cognitively assessed and blood samples were taken for detection and quantification of systemic inflammatory markers. Initial clinical assessments of periodontal health were conducted and the same assessments were repeated six months later. The study data revealed that periodontit...

My Staff Won’t Do It

Posted on January 20, 2017May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

There are many justifications, rationalizations, and excuses in non-testing practices, all of which signal some level of disinterest in enhancing patient care. One of the most difficult to understand is; “My staff/hygienist just won’t do it.” If the doctor is the driving force behind testing implementation and one or more team members are resistant, a staff meeting is in order. Leadership comes from the top and it is the doctor’s responsibility to set the direction for the practice, including th...

Stop Diagnosing the Pocketbook

Posted on January 13, 2017May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

Cost is a consideration for all of us, which we take into account when deciding whether or not to purchase a wide variety of goods and services. Our responsibility as clinicians is to make recommendations to help patients achieve the best health possible, without letting our preconceived ideas about the patient’s ability to afford treatment get in the way – what I refer to as diagnosing the pocketbook. One of the things we do not know and cannot predict is how much value the patient puts on thei...