salivary testing

Discover What Saliva Can Reveal About Whole-Body Health at the NYDHA 2026 Empire Conference

Posted on by Nichelle Venable, BSDH, RDH
Dental hygienists play an important role in recognizing the connections between oral health and overall wellness. At the 2026 NYDHA Empire Conference, attendees will have an opportunity to explore how salivary diagnostics can support this connection and help advance preventive, personalized patient care. Taking place November 6–8 at the Hyatt Regency Long Island in Hauppauge, New York, the annual conference brings dental hygiene professionals together for continuing education, networking,...
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The Three Pillars of Periodontal Healing: Why Identifying the Infection Matters

Posted on by Lee Sheldon DMD PA
Over the course of my career, some of the most satisfying—and often surprising—results I have seen in periodontal practice have come from balancing what I call the three pillars of periodontal healing: root cleanliness, control of the infectious component, and occlusion. All three matter. But for this discussion, I want to begin with the infectious component because it raises an interesting question: If we believe we are treating an infection, shouldn't we try to identify what we are trea...
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The Missing Link Between Bacterial Testing and Clinical Decision-Making

Posted on by Lindsey Bieligk, MSDH, RDH
Salivary bacterial testing has transformed the way we identify periodontal pathogens and assess disease risk. Instead of relying solely on clinical findings, today's clinicians have access to biologic data that provides a more personalized understanding of each patient's oral microbiome. However, as testing becomes more widely adopted, many dental professionals are encountering an unexpected challenge: interpreting the results is often easier than knowing what to do next. Receiving a labo...
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Throwback: Leaky Gum Syndrome & The Oral-Systemic Link

Posted on by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS
Few of us think much about the health of our mouth lining unless our gums are swollen and red or if we have mouth pain. But the tissue lining your gums and the inside of your mouth is vitally important to keeping you safe from heart disease, joint pain, and brain disease. How do healthy gums protect you from all of that? Your mouth lining is a critical defense between infections in your mouth and the rest of your body. Bleeding, swollen, or sore gums can point to a weak defense in the mouth ...
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Midlife Health Is About More Than Menopause

Posted on by Erika Schlick
    In our previous post, we explored Erika Schlick’s journey from navigating her own complex health challenges to creating health education platforms that help women better understand and advocate for their health. That journey ultimately led to the Women’s Midlife Health Summit, but the conversation goes far beyond menopause. While hormonal changes are an important part of midlife, they are only one piece of the larger health picture. The Summit brings together experts acro...
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Why Erika Schlick Is Bringing Together Leading Women’s Health Experts

Posted on by Erika Schlick
    For more than a decade, Erika Schlick’s work in health education has been shaped by her own experience as a patient and a desire to help others better understand what is happening in their bodies so they can ask better questions and advocate for their health. Erika’s health changed dramatically in 2012 when she became chronically ill and spent years dealing with Lyme disease, mold illness, autoimmune conditions, gut issues, thyroid health, and many of the overlapping f...
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From Cleaning to Cause: How Salivary Testing Changes the Patient Conversation

Posted on by Jonathan Evans
      For many patients, the hygiene appointment still carries a simple expectation: “I’m here to get my teeth cleaned.” As clinicians, we understand that what we see in the chair often tells a much deeper story. Bleeding, inflammation, pocketing, bone loss, and recurring disease activity are not simply “cleaning issues.” They are signs of an infection-driven inflammatory condition that requires diagnosis, strategy, and targeted therapy. The challenge is helping patie...
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Bleeding Gums Aren’t Just a Hygiene Issue – They’re Often a Diagnostic Opportunity

Posted on by Tosha Kozloski, RDH
For a long time, bleeding gums were treated as a home care conversation. Brush better. Floss more consistently. Let’s keep an eye on it… but what are we actually waiting for? That’s how most of us were taught. And honestly, it’s exactly how I practiced early in my career too. In 2008, when I began using salivary diagnostics alongside phase-contrast microscopy, something shifted for me. For the first time, I wasn’t making educated guesses. I could identify which microbes were prese...
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Virtual Interview with Dr. Rob Frey

Posted on by Rob Frey, DDS, MPH
Dr. Ron McGlennen: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started in your profession. What is your driver to do what you do? Dr. Rob Frey: I have a passion for blending esthetic dentistry, functional dentistry, and whole-body health. My journey into dentistry started with a desire to work in healthcare in a way that combined science, artistry, and meaningful human connection. I was drawn to the idea that dentistry allows you to not only restore health, but also confidence, comfort,...
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The Secret Weapon – Part Two

Posted on by Michael Goldberg DMD
In Part One, we explored how salivary analysis changes the patient conversation – helping patients better understand their health and why treatment matters. But its impact goes even further – empowering both the clinical team and the practice, which we explore below in Part Two. The Real Secret Salivary analysis isn’t powerful because it’s advanced. It’s powerful because it changes the story. It moves dentistry from:“Here’s what you need.” To: “Here’s what your body is telling us—...
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