Ep 169 Gluten in the Dental Office
A Conversation with Dr. Melissa Ing, Djenane Lemaire and Miranda Boynton
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
Every once in a while, I hear from one of my previous guests on the podcast that they’ve done something that might be of interest to my listeners. This was the case when Dr. Melissa Ing, who I spoke with on Episode 106 “Celiac Disease and Dental Education”, contacted me recently about research and a poster project a couple of her students had done. On this episode, I speak with Dr. Ing, and two of her students Djenane Lemaire and Miranda Boynton about testing they did on common materials used in dental offices to determine if they contained gluten. The testing included soaps and hand lotions, as well as materials that went directly into a patient’s mouth. The poster was very well received, being awarded second place in a large competition and being chosen for presentation at a major dental conference. We talk about how dentistry can be a first line to diagnosis and how rewarding it was for the students to have their research project about gluten exposure in the dental office so widely received.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
Some episodes of the podcast challenge me more than others. This often happens when I speak with researchers or scientists regarding new studies or papers they’ve written. The subject and results are usually quite exciting, but the terminology and recording methods are often beyond me. I do my best to understand and take solace in the fact that most of my listeners are not scientists, and if I can grasp the basics of the research as well as the results, I can talk about them and help you understand as well.
My experience is altogether different when I’m talking with student researchers. These discussions have been with student recipients of an award from the CCA JA Campbell Research Fund, as well as students mentored by a doctor or scientist with an interest in celiac disease. It was a pleasure to speak on this podcast with both Djenane and Miranda, neither of whom had indepth knowledge of celiac disease prior to working with Dr. Ing. Djenane’s parents are both doctors, with her father being a gastroenterologist, so she may have had an interest there, and Miranda also comes from a healthcare family, and suffers from gluten sensitivity.
Like Dr. Ing, it’s great to see these scientists take an interest in celiac disease and how it might affect their patients. In researching for a study or preparing a paper, these students must follow a very straight line in their interest and stay focused on one aspect of celiac disease, but it’s wonderful to see them hungry for more information. Both Djenane and Miranda had a real concern for their future celiac patients and were actively trying to meet their specific needs.
I could feel Dr. Ing’s pride in her two students, both in the recorded podcast and the discussions the four of us had around the podcast. I felt proud that they allowed me to help them promote their work. I’m confident that whatever course their education takes them in, they will know more than most dental professionals about celiac disease and will continually be trying to educate their peers for our sake. Thank you ladies!