TOPIC
The Oral Microbiome and Your Clinical Practice: The Mouth as a Systemic Gateway

SPEAKER
Eve Lofthus, DDS

CONTINUING EDUCATION

2 CE Units (Core)

This course provides an evidence-based overview of the oral microbiome as a complex biofilm
ecosystem and its relevance to both oral and systemic health. Participants will review current
scientific understanding of microbial balance and dysbiosis, with emphasis on biological
mechanisms linking periodontal inflammation to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular
disease, neurodegenerative disease, and certain cancers. The course will examine key oral
microbial taxa most frequently studied in these associations, while critically evaluating the
strength and limitations of the available evidence. Attendees will also gain an overview of
contemporary oral microbiome testing methodologies, including differences in analytical
approaches, sampling strategies, clinical utility, and limitations. Practical considerations for
patient communication and integration of salivary diagnostics into dental practice will be
discussed within an ethical, non-promotional framework.
Suitable for general dentists, specialists, and dental hygienists with foundational knowledge of
periodontal disease and preventive care.

Disclosure:
The speaker reports a financial interest in an oral-health–related company. All content presented
is educational in nature, based on peer-reviewed scientific literature, and does not promote or
endorse any specific commercial product or service.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the structure and function of the oral microbiome as a complex biofilm
ecosystem and distinguish between microbial balance and dysbiosis in clinical practice.
2. Explain the primary biological mechanisms by which oral dysbiosis and periodontal
inflammation are associated with systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease,
neurodegenerative disease, and certain cancers, based on current peer-reviewed evidence.
3. Identify key oral microbial taxa that have been most frequently studied in association
with systemic disease risk, and evaluate the strength and limitations of the existing
evidence linking these organisms to extra-oral outcomes. Briefly discuss practice models
that have shifted to chair side salivary diagnostic and general health coaching based on
microbiome cues.
4. Differentiate between commercially available oral microbiome testing methodologies
(e.g., targeted qPCR, 16S rRNA sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics), including
differences in sampling methods, analytical outputs, clinical utility, and limitations and
cost. Discuss how to determine which is right for your practice and for each patient,
depending on outcome. Discuss other ways for hygienists to evaluate oral microbiome
quality and content, microscope, pH, salivary hydration content and why that matters for
remineralization.
5. Discuss practical considerations for incorporating salivary and oral microbiome
diagnostics into dental practice, including patient communication, documentation, and
general coding and reimbursement concepts, without overstatement of diagnostic or
predictive claims.

SPEAKER BIO

Eve Lofthus, DDS is a dentist, oral microbiome researcher, and co-founder of Evenmouth, a microbiome-first oral care company. After a decade in clinical practice, she turned her focus to the science of oral ecology and the growing body of evidence connecting the oral microbiome to systemic health. She is dedicated to advancing dentistry's shift from a reactive, sterilization-based model to one rooted in microbial balance and prevention.