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Persuading the Invisible: The Microbial Key to Optimal Dental Health

Gut Health and Microbiome

 

Presented by:  Emily Stein, PhD 

Original Publication Date: November 14, 2025 (AAOSH Accelerate 2025)

 

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Course Description:

This lecture explores the critical role of the oral microbiome in maintaining optimal dental and systemic health. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how a balanced microbial ecosystem supports enamel integrity, gingival health, immune modulation, and disease resistance. The session examines dysbiosis as a primary driver of common dental diseases, including caries, periodontal disease, and chronic inflammation, and identifies behavioral, dietary, and environmental factors that disrupt microbial balance. Emerging technologies and microbiome-focused therapies will be introduced, highlighting innovative approaches that shift dental care from disease management to prevention and ecosystem restoration. Attendees will learn practical strategies to assess risk, rebalance the oral microbiome prior to invasive procedures, and support long-term microbial stability through evidence-informed habits, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

  1. Provide a general understanding of the oral microbiome and its role in maintaining oral health.
  2. Discuss key features of dysbiosis and drivers of dental disease.
  3. Present new technologies addressing dental issues focused on the oral microbiome.

Practical Applications:

  • Discuss preventative habits, diet, and lifestyle options for high-risk patients.
  • Discuss how to rebalance the oral microbiome prior to invasive dental procedures.
  • Discuss how to maintain a balanced oral microbiome.

 

Method: Lecture

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 730 (Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology)

Credit Hours: 1

 

Speaker's Bio:

Emily Stein has co-founded several biotechnology start-ups that address unmet needs in healthcare and wellness. She brings a unique scientific background that spans molecular biology, microbiology, molecular and cellular immunology, and rheumatology, with emphasis on chronic infections and chronic inflammatory diseases. 

She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Immunology & Rheumatology at Stanford University, where she studied the role of the neuroendocrine-immune axis in autoimmune diseases. Dr. Stein holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of California at Berkeley, where she studied signaling pathways involved in nutrient stress responses and biofilm community development in bacteria.

Conflict of Interest:

N/A