Did you know that over 42% of the population is suffering from some form of Periodontal Disease, or as you may know it “Gum Disease.” That is almost half of the population that has an INFECTION in their mouth. That is 65 million people. That, my friends, is a LOT of people.

You may be wondering who I am, so let me introduce myself. My name is Caroline. I am a Registered Dental Hygienist with a serious passion for helping others improve their oral health. I am a Nashville native and married to my high school sweetheart. We have two sweet babies, ages 3 and 1.5, who keep us busy. I love to stay active and as my husband would tell you, I don’t sit still for long. All that is to say, I love working in a fast-paced, lively office with a friendly staff and people who you just love spending time with. Lucky for me, I found that with my coworkers at Nashville Dentistry Co.

Caroline, our hygienist, and her family

Here at our office we offer what we call Modular Therapy. That’s a fancy term for a specific form of hygiene that allows me as a hygienist to not only diagnose your gum infection but to also help you stop the progression and then heal it. We use a state-of-the-art microscope to take a closer look at the bacteria in your mouth, and from there we send off a DNA sample using a few samples of saliva. The test goes to a lab where they analyze the bacteria and send us a very detailed list of the “bugs” in your mouth. This is helpful to us because  1. It gives you a visual of what is going on in your mouth via the slide and the DNA results on paper and 2. It allows us to adjust our treatment plan to your exact needs. Then with the help of specific at-home rinses, a Waterpik, and consistent checkups, we are able to get rid of the bacteria causing the problems and keep them from coming back.

So what does that look like for you as the patient? You can expect a few more appointments than you may be used to (think 3-5), but in return, you will witness your gum and tissue health improve in large strides, and you will have learned so much in the process!! I’m not sure what could really be more exciting than that! As a hygienist, I love including my patient and getting them active in taking care of themselves as a whole and this therapy helps us do that!

I am so excited to meet every one of you when you come to visit us at our new office! Don’t forget to call Nancy, our fabulous front desk manager, and schedule your appointment today! You can come to hang out with us and learn all about your teeth, how the health of your mouth can affect the rest of your body, and have some fun in the process!! We hope to see all of you soon!

Caroline, RDH