In the competitive environment of oral health care, dental practices are increasingly embracing innovative technologies that bridge the gap between oral health and overall wellness while differentiating their business to dental consumers.
One such breakthrough is the Oral Genome salivary biometrics test, a tool that is swiftly transforming dental visits with oral and systemic health and wellness evaluations. This chair-side saliva test goes beyond traditional dental assessments, offering insights that connect oral biomarkers to systemic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Prevention, Not Reaction:
Traditional dental visits often focus on visible signs of disease. But what if we could move beyond simply reacting to problems? By analyzing key salivary biomarkers and integrating that data with trusted risk assessment tools, we can paint a clearer picture of a patient’s unique needs and susceptibility to major oral health problems before they manifest clinically. Within 10 minutes, chairside results shed light on key biomarkers such as:
- Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg): Linked to various systemic conditions.
- MMP-8: An enzyme indicating active periodontal inflammation.
- Glucose: Crucial for energy production and metabolic regulation.
- Nitric Oxide: Essential for blood circulation and immune function.
- Salivary Proteins: Protective against pathogens.
- Salivary pH and Buffering Capacity: Important for preventing acid erosion and indicating the mouth’s resistance to decay.
Personalized precision dentistry is not just about generating lab reports; it encompasses the integration of lifestyle factors from the American Dental Association’s Caries Risk Assessment and the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Risk Assessment. This holistic approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of each patient’s oral health, allowing for tailored interventions that address both dental and systemic health issues. This paradigm shift in dental care ensures that patients receive the most effective care based on their individual risk profiles and lifestyle factors.
A Case Study on Bridging the Dental-Medical Gap
Dr. Rhonda Kalasho, an influential figure, exemplifies the transformative impact of integrating advanced diagnostic tools into standard dental practice. Consider the case of “Miguel,” a patient who, during a routine cleaning, was discovered to have elevated biomarkers and a risk assessment indicating a pre-diabetic state. The test delivers results in minutes, allowing immediate discussion of potential health concerns and treatment options. This efficiency revolutionizes patient management, enabling practices like Dr. Kalasho’s to maximize the utility of each visit and significantly enhance patient satisfaction.
The Oral Genome test is further complemented by the mHealth app, which extends Dr. Kalasho’s reach beyond the dental office. This app provides patients with continuous access to their health data, personalized oral hygiene tips, and reminders for follow-up care, maintaining engagement and empowering patients in their health management.
Benefits for DSOs
- Empower Patients: Data-driven discussions replace guesswork. By translating biomarker data into actionable insights, patients become active participants in their oral health, driving better outcomes and long-term loyalty and trust.
- Drive Case Acceptance: Concrete data encourages patients to invest in necessary treatments. Patients appreciate cutting-edge, personalized care. This builds a reputation for forward-thinking dentistry.
- Enhance Preventive Care: Preventive care positions practices as leaders in patient-centered, comprehensive health management. This can be seamlessly integrated into membership subscription plans, combining ongoing monitoring with preventive care services, which improves patient retention, generates a steady revenue stream, and enhances the overall health and wellness offerings of the DSO.
- Medical-Dental Collaboration: Systemic health markers help clinicians spot potential red flags and collaborate more effectively with the patient's physician, enhancing overall patient care and reinforcing dentistry's role in systemic health. By integrating oral health care with systemic health management, the dental team can play a crucial role in improving the metabolic control of conditions like diabetes. Maintaining optimal oral health not only addresses dental issues but also supports better management of chronic diseases, leading to improved patient outcomes and overall health.
As leaders in the dental industry, DSOs have the opportunity to distinguish themselves as the pioneers in personalized dentistry to ultimately set a higher standard for the future.
Is your DSO ready to embrace this transformative approach?
Integration into existing workflows may require initial training and adjustments to ensure seamless operation. To support this transition, Oral Genome partners for success by offering personalized training, workflow implementation guidance, and comprehensive online materials. Additionally, our smartphone app guides both patients and providers step by step through the process and delivers results with a succinct wellness report, simplifying the use of the product.
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