WEBINAR: The Oral-Gut Connection: Dentistry’s Role in Whole-Body Health

WEBINAR: The Oral-Gut Connection: Dentistry’s Role in Whole-Body Health
Presented by Pedram Shojai, OMD – The Urban Monk, with Elmira Shojai, DDS and Lora Hooper, BSDH, RDH, EFDA

The oral cavity is more than the beginning of the digestive tract—it is a living microbial ecosystem and an important window into systemic inflammatory load. In this practical, evidence-informed session, dentists and dental-team members will explore the oral–gut axis: the two-way relationship among periodontal ecology, the intestinal barrier, the gut microbiome, food-mediated immune patterns, and whole-body health.

Through a clear, clinically grounded framework, you will learn how oral dysbiosis, gingival inflammation and periodontal disease may coexist with gut dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability. Examine the biologic pathways that connect oral inflammation with cardiovascular, metabolic, neurologic and immune-health associations while clearly distinguishing association, biologic plausibility and proven causation.

See how an ecosystem-based, multi-point assessment can connect oral microbiome data, GI-MAP findings, and KBMO FIT176 food-immune context. Consider three anonymized clinical case studies that demonstrate how these data streams can be cross-correlated to form an individualized clinical thesis, support appropriate care coordination, and help patients understand why a whole-body lens matters. This course is designed to expand the dental professional’s ability to recognize oral-systemic patterns, communicate responsibly, and coordinate with qualified medical and functional-health partners without practicing outside scope.

Objectives:

• Describe the oral–gut axis and pathways of systemic inflammatory signaling
• Distinguish association from causation in periodontal-systemic health discussions
• Identify oral-systemic pattern signals that may warrant a coordinated referral
• Explain the complementary roles of Orobiome, GI-MAP, and KBMO FIT176 data
• Apply a multi-point diagnostic framework to formulate responsible, patient-centered next steps

Dr. Pedram Shojai is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, functional medicine practitioner, and New York Times bestselling author. He is the founder of The Urban Monk brand and the creator of the Interconnected documentary series — a multi-year research project on the gut microbiome and chronic disease featuring Dr. Jeffrey Bland and leading researchers in integrative medicine — and the Gateway to Health series on the oral microbiome and systemic health. He has developed functional medicine education programs used by practitioners across the United States and is a recognized voice in the integrative and functional medicine community.

Dr. Elmira Shojai has over 18 years of hands-on clinical experience revolutionizing how we understand the connection between oral health and whole-body wellness. She earned her DDS from the University of the Pacific and spent over a decade in active clinical practice in California. In May 2025, she became Chief of Dental Programs for Gateway to Health where she oversees a nationwide network of licensed dentists who provide personalized consultations based on cutting-edge oral microbiome testing.

Ms. Lora Hooper is nationally recognized as The Saliva Hacker™ and a leading educator in salivary diagnostics and oral–systemic health. Her work focuses on helping clinicians understand how oral pathogens influence systemic inflammation, cardiometabolic disease and chronic health conditions. Lora has been involved in the interpretation and clinical application of more than 100,000 saliva tests, providing her with one of the most extensive real-world perspectives in salivary diagnostics. She currently collaborates with The Urban Monk at Gateway to Health, where her work continues to connect oral health with broader approaches in metabolic and lifestyle medicine.

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Rate:
$0 MDDS Member
$0 MDDS Member Dental Team
$25 MDDS Non-member
$25 MDDS Non-member Dental Team

Location: Zoom Webinar

CE Credits: 1.5

Format:
Live Virtual, On-Demand available for 2 months following the webinar.

Speaker Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Cancellation Deadline: November 6, 2027

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations will be accepted and are entitled to a refund provided they are received at MDDS by the cancellation deadline. Refunds will not be given for cancellations after the cancellation deadline.