A clean mouth doesn’t always mean a healthy one. Bleeding gums aren’t ‘just bleeding’—they’re a warning sign. By looking beyond the surface with microscopy and salivary testing, we can catch infection early, protect whole-body health, and change the way we treat gum disease.

Bleeding gums aren’t just a hygiene issue—they’re a warning sign. RDAs are often the first to see the subtle signs of inflammation, and their words can change the entire trajectory of a patient’s care. From simple chairside conversations to helping patients connect the dots between oral and whole-body health, RDAs play a hidden but powerful role in preventing disease—and most practices don’t even realize it.

Ever feel like you're just going through the motions? Our brains are like sneaky assistants, handling mundane tasks so we can focus on the important stuff. But this autopilot mode affects not just us, but our patients too. Discover how to break routine expectations and spark proactive conversations in dental care.

A lot has changed in our understanding of gum infections. I won’t bore you with a history lesson, but we've certainly moved past the non-specific plaque theory from the 70s. Simply put, it's all about the bugs, balance, and treating the real issue.

I'm talking serious bleeding here – like you've hit an artery. For me this used to happen more often than I’d like to admit. But when my initial assessment had minimal or no BOP or localized inflammation, it seemed logical a prophy was the right course of action.