salivary testing

​Saliva Microbiome Testing: The Future of Dentistry is Here​

Posted on 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...
Read More

Beyond Burnout: 5 steps to lead your hygiene team toward higher job satisfaction and retention

Posted on by Jamie Dooley RDH BIS
Every practice has that one person who steps up and helps out (without being asked), enjoys learning, and boosts the morale of the whole team. Chances are it is one of your hygienists. The best RDHs to employ are those who go the extra mile; but if you don’t acknowledge their extra effort, they will move on to a setting that does.  There is a shift happening in dental hygiene, and if we aren’t prepared for it, we are going to fall so far behind that it will be challenging to catch up. As ...
Read More

Protect Patient Health with Salivary Diagnostics

Posted on by Kathryn Gilliam
Persistent oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been linked to an increased risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Over 200 strains of HPV have been identified. The high-risk types, HPV-16 and HPV-18 are associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The CDC reports that HPV is responsible for approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancer in the Unit...
Read More

Microbiome Biohacking: Dr. Debbie Ozment Interviews Dr. Ron McGlennen

Posted on by Abby McMillan
Dr. Debbie Ozment has been a private practice dentist since 1985 and has an extensive wealth of knowledge to share. She attended dental school at Oklahoma University College of Dentistry, where she later served as adjunct faculty for seven years. Dr. Ozment also holds a master’s degree in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and is a Diplomat with the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. She is a Nationally Board-Certified He...
Read More

How do you speak Dementia/Brain Health and Periodontal Disease with your patients?

Posted on by Steven Ritzi DDS
Dr. McGlennen: Concerning dementia and brain health, recent medical studies point to poor oral health, and high levels of the bacteria in our gums with the increased risk to develop Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia1-3. Specifically, there is now evidence of the oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), present in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid and it may be involved with the production of the abnormal proteins that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease4.  Additionally, the d...
Read More

Oral Health and Whole-Body Health: Using Testing to Address Cause and Effect with Dr. Ron McGlennen

Posted on by Amanda Seaton, B.S.
You know that oral health can profoundly impact whole-body health. And your patients are becoming increasingly aware of this fact. You’re uniquely positioned to influence their oral care decisions. So, how do you expertly educate them about this vital connection? Join Ron McGlennen, MD, and Jocelyn Strand, ND, on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, at 11am PT as they discuss evaluating oral health and addressing dental disorders from an integrative perspective. In this “fireside chat,” Dr. McGlennen...
Read More

The Necessity of Two Patient Specific Identifiers

Posted on by Access Genetics/OralDNA Clinical Lab Team
All healthcare industries strive for safety and quality control, especially when handling patient information. With the OralDNA® ordering process, some may wonder why it is so important to have two matching patient specific identifiers on the OralDNA specimen and test requisition. In this week’s blog, we will share with you the importance of patient specific identifiers and how you can accurately identify your patients’ samples. According to the College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelin...
Read More

Gratitude Beyond the Feast

Posted on by Abby McMillan
Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday marked by a feast. The Thanksgiving season invites us to pause, take a breath, and acknowledge the blessings that often go unnoticed in our day to day lives. Our team at OralDNA® Labs is grateful for each and every one of you and for your dedication to advancing patient care through salivary diagnostics. This Thanksgiving, we want to extend our thanks for your trust in our services and for allowing us to be a part of your commitment to your patients’ ...
Read More

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...
Read More

An Introduction to the History of Clinical Laboratory Testing

Posted on 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...
Read More