Objectives

• Recognize why oral diseases are called dysbiotic communities
• Consider how multiple pathogens create an inflamophilic environment
• Understand the nuts and bolts of a healthy microbial community
• Learn new strategies to combat oral dysbiosis
• Appreciate the role of regular and thorough biofilm debridement
• Discover the role of fluid dynamics in health maintenance
• Develop in-office and home strategies to create and maintain homeostasis

Periodontal disease and caries are global public health problems. Microbes that support the periodontal dysbiotic community tax the immune system and ramp up the body’s inflammatory response.  Emerging research now recognizes many oral pathogens are key players in a wide range of systemic diseases and disorders. And there is now a huge spotlight on inflammatory disease as a complicating risk factor for those battling COVID 19.

For decades dental professionals have relied on traditional methods to prevent, control, or reverse biofilm-based oral dysbiosis, but the prevalence of these inflammatory diseases remains high. The economic burden to treat advanced biofilm-based disease is staggering and the toll on over all well-being can no longer be ignored. This course guides dental professionals away from the blame and shame game and into a new era of patient partnership and success by considering new or alternative ways to reverse oral dysbiosis.