Speakers - 2026 Speakers

Title: Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Bidirectional Links Between Oral Health and Women’s Health

Abstract

This presentation explores the intricate and clinically signifi cant relationship between oral health and women’s health across the lifespan—from puberty to menopause. As research continues to uncover systemic connections between oral infl ammation and various chronic conditions, it has become increasingly clear that women experience unique oral health challenges infl uenced by hormonal fl uctuations including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and infl ammatory conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis.

In this session, we delve into the evidence-based links between periodontal disease and women’s systemic health outcomes. We will examine how oral induced infl ammation may contribute to things such as adverse pregnancy outcomes or endometriosis and how systemic conditions may in turn infl uence periodontal health.

By bridging the disciplines of dentistry and medicine, this presentation highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Dental professionals are often the fi rst to notice oral manifestations of systemic issues, and through education and early detection, we can play a crucial role in a patient’s overall health trajectory and quality of life.

This session also outlines practical strategies that clinicians can implement within their practices to support women’s health, including communication models that encourage patient awareness, proactive screening tools and collaborative referral pathways. By empowering dental professionals with this knowledge, we can move toward a more holistic, preventive, and patient-centered model of care.

What will the audience take away from your presentation?

• A deeper understanding of the hormonal infl uences on oral health throughout a woman’s life stages
• Evidence-based links between periodontal disease and systemic health conditions specifi c to women
• Practical tools and screening protocols for identifying and managing oral-systemic links in female patients
• Communication strategies to empower women in their oral and overall health
• Guidelines for interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and medical professionals to support women’s wellness

How will the audience be able to use what they learn?

• They can implement targeted screening and patient education for female patients.
• It provides a framework to develop collaborative care models with medical colleagues.
• Enhances their ability to identify systemic red fl ags from oral presentations.
• Elevates the scope of practice and positions them as a more integrative healthcare provider.
• Could support future research or academic development on oral-systemic health links in female populations.