“The Oral-Systemic Link: The Latest Gamechangers.”

In this episode of the Ultimate Dental Podcast, Dr. David Moffet interviews Dr. Ed Zuckerberg, discussing his unique journey into dentistry, the establishment of his home practice, and the evolution of his career into consulting and advising dental startups. They delve into the critical connection between oral health and systemic diseases, emphasising the importance of oral cancer screening and the latest innovative testing methods.The conversation highlights the changing landscape of dentistry and the need for greater awareness of oral health's impact on overall well-being. In this conversation, Dr. Ed discusses the critical state of oral cancer detection, emphasising the alarming stagnation in survival rates over the past fifty decades.Dr. Zuckerberg introduces the latest innovative salivary testing methods that can now predict accurately and detect oral cancer at its earliest stages, potentially saving lives through early intervention. The discussion extends to the connection between oral health and systemic diseases, particularly Alzheimer's, highlighting the role of specific bacteria like P. gingivalis.Dr. Zuckerberg also shares insights into future innovations in dental care and the evolving role of dentists as primary health care providers.What you will learn:[01:20] Introduction and Background of Dr. Ed Zuckerberg[04:17] The Journey to Dentistry: Personal Stories[07:17] Setting Up a Home Dental Practice[13:30] Transitioning to California and New Career Paths[25:12] The Oral-Systemic Connection and Its Importance[28:34] Latest Innovations in Oral Health Testing[31:58] The State of Oral Cancer Detection[38:11] Innovative Salivary Testing for Early Detection[45:04] Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Systemic Diseases[51:30] Future Innovations in Dental Care[56:31] The Role of Dentists in Overall HealthTakeaways Dr. Zuckerberg's prime working hours are late at night. Having a dental practice at home allows for better work-life balance. Dentistry is evolving to become the new primary care. Oral health is directly linked to systemic health issues. P. gingivalis is a key player in oral and systemic diseases. Patients are becoming more aware of the importance of oral health. Viome's testing is a game changer in dental diagnostics. Dentists need to educate patients more about gum health. The transition to a home practice can be beneficial for family life. Dr. Zuckerberg emphasises the importance of oral cancer screening. The five-year survival rate for oral cancer has not improved since 1978. Early detection of oral cancer is crucial for effective treatment. Viome's salivary test has the ability to detect oral and throat cancer with 95% reliability. P. gingivalis is linked to various systemic diseases, including Alzheimer's Innovative dental treatments are being developed to improve oral health. Dentists should be playing a much greater key role in overall health care. Medical insurance should cover preventive dental tests. A healthy mouth is essential for preventing systemic diseases. Greater public awareness of oral health's impact on overall health is needed. Future dental care will focus on personalised treatments based on microbiome analysis.Sound Bites This is my prime work hours. As a child I had very few experiences in the dental chair. I was pretty green. I needed to find work/life/family/fun balance. Dentistry is going to be the new primary care for patients. Healthy mouth, healthy brain. We are not saving lives at any greater frequency. We can pinpoint from a simple saliva test. We can find patients at the earliest possible stages. This test should be done annually. These toxic proteins can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Dentistry should be the window to the rest of the body.