While the first attempt at using salivary proteins for cancer diagnosis dates back to 1959, the use of oral health as an indicator of overall health has taken gradual steps—especially at the dentist’s office.
In a 2011 interview, David T.W. Wong, an active scientist in oral cancer and saliva diagnostics research, expressed his enthusiasm for this growing trend.
“The role of dentists to screen for medical conditions based on saliva diagnostics at the chairside is soon to be a clinical reality,” Wong said at the time, when he was the associate dean of research and a professor of oral biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry.
Wong, now Director of the UCLA Center for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Research (COOR), added that “the use of saliva biomarkers for detection of oral and systemic diseases is the next frontier of diagnostics.”
She was able to stop taking steroids and walk again
Functional dentist, Victoria Sampson
Indeed, this is becoming a reality, about 13 years later.
During an interview with Steven Bartlett, whose podcast The Diary of a CEO has more than eight million subscribers, British functional dentist Victoria Sampson, also known as the “saliva queen,” offered a glimpse into this journey. Sampson had written a paper connecting oral health to poor COVID-19 outcomes, which later helped her delve into developing salivary diagnostics and microbiome testing.
“We did a lot of research and found that COVID sufferers who had gum disease were nine times more likely to experience complications,” Sampson said. Along with her sister Ariane, Sampson opened The Health Society—a multidisciplinary health centre in London. “But also, what struck me was, why aren’t we using saliva more regularly? Why isn’t this a more commercialized tool for our patients?”
Following this insight, Sampson pursued developing oral microbiome testing.
Sampson’s journey unfolded further as she saw improvements in her own patients.
“She was able to stop taking steroids and walk again,” Sampson said, referring to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whose health improved after Sampson treated her gum disease.
Studies link oral to overall health
This aligns with recent studies. Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University discovered that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a bacterium linked to gum disease, can exacerbate RA. This builds on previous research showing that oral bacteria are connected to cardiovascular and brain health conditions. For instance, inflammation from dental bacteria can lead to infections of the heart lining, known as endocarditis.
Like Sampson, Vancouver-based functional practitioner Lila Popa at Dundarave Dental is part of a new generation of dentists pushing the envelope with holistic thinking.
“Research now links oral health—particularly the balance of the oral microbiome—to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis,” Popa told Oral Health Group. “Additionally, poor oral health is connected to gut dysbiosis, which can disrupt digestion and immune function. These findings highlight how maintaining a healthy mouth plays a critical role in protecting not just oral wellness, but cognitive health, immune resilience, and gut balance.”
Popa’s journey begins during the pandemic
Popa, who was overwhelmed and stressed after starting her own dental practice, took a functional approach when the pandemic hit, giving her time to reflect.
“The constant demands took a toll on my health, leading to thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s autoimmune disease,” she said. “At the time, I was too stressed to understand what my body needed or how to take care of it. When COVID hit and my dental office was shut down, I suddenly had more time to reflect, and that’s when I came across functional medicine.”
“I realized my autoimmune issues were a result of insufficient nutrients and chronic stress,” Popa continued, leading her to functional medicine as a new path in her journey.
In May 2023, Popa received her functional certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)—considered the gold standard in functional medicine education—after three years of online study.
IFM is seeing a rise in registrations and certifications. Between 2020 and 2021, more than 18,000 professionals registered for IFM’s training programs. In 2023, IFM trained 14,111 professionals—a 12% increase from 2022—bringing the total number of trained healthcare practitioners to over 83,370. However, it’s unclear how many dentists have received IFM certification. While IFM offers education in functional medicine principles to various health professionals, including dentists, its practitioner search tool does not currently offer a designation for “functional dentists,” making it hard to count the number of dentists who obtained this certification.
Popa may have previously said that she is one of the few functional dentists in the world, but she explained that there isn’t an official “functional dentist” designation. Instead, she received certification as a functional medicine practitioner, applying those principles to her dental practice.
“While I’m deeply committed to integrating functional medicine into dentistry, it’s important to emphasize that ‘functional dentistry’ remains an approach, not a formal accreditation,” she said.
Even so, Popa is noticing an increase in interest.
“While it’s still a relatively new field, more dentists are open to learning how a holistic approach can complement traditional methods,” she said. “I often find myself in conversations with colleagues intrigued by the link between oral health and systemic conditions. Some are even starting to integrate functional principles into their own practices.”
One standard I’m working toward is integrating routine oral microbiome testing into regular dental checkups. By assessing and monitoring each patient’s unique microbial profile, we can catch imbalances early, helping prevent issues like gum disease and even systemic inflammation.
Functional dentist, Lila Popa.
Microbiome testing to uncover root causes
Despite the lack of a formal designation, Popa’s continued education has empowered her to implement new practices that focus on “root-cause health assessments,” touching on nutrition, stress, and lifestyle habits.
Most importantly, microbiome testing is part of her services.
“I work with an oral microbiome testing team who helps me interpret, analyze, and compare reports to ensure we’re getting a complete picture of each patient’s oral health,” she said.
“For example, one standard I’m working toward is integrating routine oral microbiome testing into regular dental checkups. By assessing and monitoring each patient’s unique microbial profile, we can catch imbalances early, helping prevent issues like gum disease and even systemic inflammation.”
I work with an oral microbiome testing team who helps me interpret, analyze, and compare reports to ensure we’re getting a complete picture of each patient’s oral health.
Functional dentist, Lila Popa.
Another standard she’s adding is educating her patients and using biocompatible materials exclusively in dental restorations to ensure that “all materials support the body’s natural healing processes without introducing toxins or allergens.”
Popa also has a network of functional medicine practitioners to whom she refers patients.
“This collaborative approach allows us to support patients holistically, addressing the root causes of oral health issues and promoting overall wellness through coordinated care.”
When asked if there is growing public awareness about the connection between oral and overall health, Popa replied, “More people are beginning to understand that the mouth is not an isolated system but an integral part of overall wellness.”
“This growing awareness is encouraging patients to take a more proactive approach to their oral care, recognizing that maintaining a healthy mouth can help prevent broader health issues.”
For Popa, functional medicine has taught her how to care for her body, mind, and spirit, moving beyond conventional approaches that only focus on one locality.
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