Insights
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and ideas in the fields of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, Geriatric Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Radiology, Pain Medicine and Pain Science, and Community Oral Health.
The Oral Microbiome and Prevention: A Practical Framework for Dental and Public Health Professionals
Apr 29, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RDNkSnFb7StUiqQPap8a6?si=dRHoRR-1QOirRhOLA1d1OQ https://ostrowonline.usc.edu/the-overlooked-link-between-diabetes-and-oral-health/Every day, we ask patients to brush, floss, and reduce sugar intake. Most patients can repeat these...
Microbiome Influences on Oral Inflammation, Autoimmune Disease, and Orofacial Pain
Apr 25, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7j7zamfnm3ufZsVoNTd0Zy?si=18HD4fKGQxii8nCpBGeRlA Introduction The human microbiome plays an important role in maintaining physiologic balance throughout the body. In the oral cavity, diverse microbial species interact with...
Two Brakes, One Broken System: A Precision Medicine Framework for Bruxism and Psychogenic Jaw Clenching
Apr 17, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5h5FkoaUKDik8jsNdkFWo2?si=Mp7R_ysURH-0p_jzvixWoQ New iPSC-based genomic evidence has identified two converging neurobiological failures at the root of bruxism: a serotonin 2A receptor variant that amplifies stress-driven motor...
How Mouth Microbes May Shape Exercise Performance and Chronic Pain
Apr 16, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1sqJe13ScKhBML5Q1ayQIX?si=kNg6gjBPQiKwSMqRG-zlqQ Poor oral health has been linked with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers. This connection is rooted in the body’s complex microbial...
Your Mouth is Aging Too: What Your Oral Microbiome Reveals — and What Your Dentist Can Do About It
Apr 7, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2BMAdyag1PXa8nUEefnp83?si=4xWu-RFRQDS-M3JRa7Mp3w Most patients come to our office worried about cavities, gum disease, or a tooth that needs attention. Very few come in thinking about their longevity. But that is exactly what we think...
Why Mental Health Is Central to Orofacial Pain Care
Mar 24, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/098pR9xzjmAOpU731klLXS?si=dBIdTZdcQByPINU3D1Fseg When a patient comes in describing persistent jaw pain, facial pressure, and limited mouth opening, the instinct is to reach for imaging and look for structural evidence. But in...
Mental Health and Oral Health Integration in Older Adults
Mar 11, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2PztVm7NuPeBIRkuKTHAy4?si=C4agMBaRSb2_AGFYDsufnQ Introduction Mental health and oral health are deeply interconnected, particularly in older adults who face bereavement, chronic illness, cognitive decline, and functional...
Beyond Teeth: Why Mental Health Must Be Part of Oral Health Care: A Public Health Perspective
Mar 6, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VbrWHxoaHPNy8VNgykSph?si=XfA93OKRTr6t4abszaRdKg Introduction: Why the Mouth and Mind Matter Together? What if the state of your mouth could influence how you think, feel, and function every day and, in turn, your mental...
Data-Driven Precision Medicine in Orofacial Pain Care
Feb 26, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fHNDLrrNlFBJtXbNhWzFO?si=wgiJ8WszSHSdDpUbhURzzw What is precision medicine? Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine or systems medicine, is a data-driven approach to medical care that considers genetic, lifestyle, and...
Precision Medicine
Feb 23, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/64JU83wz6pGUmXBulBWJE5?si=Xz2pDctbRsaDmkVllkKfeg Oral health clinicians tend to organize their schedule in a one-size-fits-all manner. We tend to schedule appointment times based on the type of treatment or personal skill level: one...
Yoga May Help with Migraines and Fibromyalgia Pain
Feb 18, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yuRnY1jreoAIctvI9uzXS?si=KrZ4JHNIStKVFOOhtGY7vQ Two conditions that commonly cause people to live with pain include fibromyalgia and migraines. Those who experience these conditions often live with ongoing pain that impacts their...
Precision Medicine Approaches in Geriatric Oral Health
Feb 10, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1AeDBAWvUJG5P6ub07nTyj?si=qfq05qyeQyCDKfptzF7hqQ Introduction Many countries have tracked changing demographics, with projections suggesting the world's population of adults 60 and older will double to 22% (2 billion) by 2050. With...
The Connection Between Chronic Pain and Falls
Feb 5, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BI0gJFXuTuWMVtaFRFytD?si=Y0lCE5-ATaWB_y3rgeUYdw Millions of people around the country live in chronic pain. Millions of people over the age of 60 also experience falls frequently, which can have a devastating impact on their health...
Regenerative Dentistry and Future Technologies Implications for Dental Public Health
Jan 22, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/61KY6gHUDruj2z37jBZ2pw?si=GcjkicVdRE64R4CRfagLHg Why Regenerative Dentistry Matters for Public Health Oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss continue to be among the most prevalent chronic conditions...
Regenerative Dentistry: The Next Superpower in Geriatric Care
Jan 16, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PP39j1aYJ21HGkhUKXzDT?si=SioEutIRRLOd-p9ubGBB7g If you are a practicing dentist, you’ve seen the older adult patients coming into your office. These patients are not the older version of 30-year-olds as we’ve seen before. They come...
Candida Infections, Glycemic Dysregulation, and the Future of Regenerative Dentistry
Jan 8, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OpxvDDiCsG7OXsTEwR57V?si=EB8ERc6-TaS0VD7yHHnhkw The evolution of regenerative dentistry and future oral health technologies has fundamentally shifted clinical priorities from symptom management toward biologic optimization and...
Oral Fungal Infections in Diabetic Patients
Jan 2, 2026
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mgqBJjGhA7kywLEaOjQRv?si=Y1_oYrsyRo-7DvAjaqMdpw Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, immune dysfunction, and microvascular compromise [1]. Although diabetes is typically...
Important Oral Manifestations of Diabetes
Dec 22, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yiQTfKGSQcoZqHm2T82so?si=3dQpZ84dTn-vHlW0nxvMqw According to the CDC, diabetes affects 14.7% of U.S. adults and 29.2% of those over age 65, making it the 8th leading cause of death.[1] Its annual economic burden is estimated at $413...
Diabetes Prevention, Management & Its Implications in Oral Health
Dec 11, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ZwkCHurP7GDvGvIVI8bkU?si=AdTuKApNSiuhdugFmzPqyg As we observe National Diabetes Month, it's crucial for dental professionals to understand the profound bidirectional relationship between diabetes and oral health. This connection has...
The Overlooked Link Between Diabetes and Oral Health: A Silent Public Health Crisis
Dec 5, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Md2YT8MbkpAWeDr6BiZxn?si=u-zGOw1KTIKEPMfI-olU0Q When diabetes is discussed, most people immediately think of complications like heart disease, kidney failure, vision or foot problems. But there’s one critical area often left out of...
Cemento-Osseous Dysplasia and the Importance of Oral Hygiene
Dec 1, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jmra8MgWvAc8Lreb3qAqL?si=v5yKu220TYmyMgBFtBzzAg Cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) is a benign fibro-osseous condition in which normal jawbone is replaced with fibrous tissue and cementum-like deposits. Although COD itself is not caused...
Can diet impact chronic low back pain?
Nov 25, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4E1dZNtmOVtq202ItBFqD2?si=cfFhoIkrSrqsgnelhYaR8A Considering we eat an average of three meals a day in the U.S., it stands to reason that what we are putting in our bodies day after day may have a big impact on how our body feels. This...
Oral Hygiene and Oral Cancer
Nov 21, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Bgm6XtPWcpnMDJaZMVHn9?si=Y1bO_tE9QN6ZerCdNyR39w A bright, healthy smile is often one of the first things people notice, and research shows it can even influence social and economic opportunities. Individuals with untreated dental...
Knowing Risks and Benefits of Integrative Medicine for Chronic Pain is Crucial
Nov 14, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Yc8HuqbXcdiBL7piDN60K?si=hGGf0J4HRyCFkKZs-4LwjQ As millions of people suffer from various types of chronic pain, they are seeking ways to get relief. Modern medicine may be able to provide some relief, but so too can some...
























