Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Episode #82: Why should healthcare practitioners integrate oral microbiome testing into their practice?

Mar 27, 2023

58:25

Microbes can create molecules that help mineralize teeth and prevent invaders from coming in and causing cavities. They can also be the cause of various different types of oral diseases including tooth decay, thrush, and burning mouth syndrome. Furthermore, Alzheimer's, adverse pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, and certain types of cancer have been found to be associated with certain microbes in our mouths. During this episode, Dr. B is joined by Dr. David Lin for a discussion around how a dysbiotic microbiome causes ill health within and outside of the mouth, the importance of doing oral microbiome testing on every patient who comes into your practice, and the different types of oral microbiome testing tools available to you. Discoveries that have been made about the oral microbiome in recent years have catalyzed a new era of evidence-based dentistry, and a dentist that is not considering the oral microbiome is practicing below the standard of care, so be sure to listen to this episode.

Key Points From This Episode:

What the oral microbiome is and the role it plays in oral disease [03:44]
The different types of biofilm found in the mouth [05:28]
Symbiosis versus dysbiosis in the context of the oral microbiome [06:46]
Examples of the roles played by beneficial microbes [08:57]
The link between your oral microbes and your gut [10:46]
Two examples of microbial interactions that demonstrate the importance of community [11:13]
Exploring the different types of oral microbiome testing [15:54]
A case study that highlights the value of microbiome testing [31:18]
Recapping how oral health is linked to overall health [34:51]
The correlation between personal health data and behavioral change [37:45]
Factors that affect the pH levels in your mouth [45:16]
How to approach the prescribing of antibiotics [48:26]
The process of assessing microbiome testing results [51:28]
Reiterating the connection between oral health and systemic health [54:20]