Inflammation: The Silent Killer We Can Finally See

The evidence connecting periodontal disease to systemic conditions has been building for decades. Now we have the clinical tools to act on it.Dr. Gary Glassman explores this shift with Dr. Michael Glogauer, who leads Dental Oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital. After 20 years researching oral-systemic connections, Dr. Glogauer discusses how rapid inflammation detection is changing clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.The discussion touches on emerging diagnostic technologies, including PerioMonitor's recent Health Canada approval, as examples of how clinical tools are evolving to support evidence-based practice.The conversation examines new research on cardiotoxic oral bacteria in heart transplant patients, the role of periodontal pathogens in neurodegeneration, and how point-of-care testing is reshaping preventive protocols. Clinical focus areas: • Periodontal biomarkers as systemic disease predictors• Pre-clinical inflammation detection protocols• Oral microbiome implications for cardiovascular and neurological health• Integration of rapid diagnostic tools into practice workflows• Economic models for preventive oral health screening