When gum tissues are inflamed, oral bacteria and bacterial products can enter the bloodstream. Researchers study how this may contribute to inflammatory processes elsewhere in the body.
AMRUTA HENDRE DDS · LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Your oral health is an important part of your overall wellbeing. We take the time to understand your individual needs. We recognize the important connections between oral health and the rest of the body.
Philosophy of Care
At Amruta Hendre DDS, every appointment begins with understanding — your medical history, your medications, your lifestyle, and your goals. We collaborate with your physicians when necessary. No rushed appointments. No unnecessary procedures. Just evidence-based care with enough time to do it right.
Our three fundamental principles of care are —
We want you to understand your oral health and feel confident making decisions about your care. We take the time to explain what is happening in your mouth, why it matters, and how it may affect your overall health. As new knowledge, tools, and treatments become available, we help you understand what they mean for you. Our goal is to give you the knowledge and confidence to take an active role in your lifelong wellness.
Prevention is a continuous commitment to lifelong health and wellness. Our goal is to stop disease before it starts. People age, health changes, and life happens. When disease occurs, we focus on preventing it from advancing. We want to help you keep your natural teeth, protect your gums, and maintain a healthy mouth so you can continue enjoying life with comfort and confidence.
A healthy and functioning mouth allows us to enjoy life to its fullest — to eat nutritious food, speak clearly, and engage with the world confidently. We bring back joy by restoring broken and missing teeth, creating a healthy oral environment, and improving one's ability to live and age well.
ORAL-SYSTEMIC HEALTH & WELLNESS
The oral microbiome plays an important role in health and wellness. When the balance of bacteria in the mouth changes, it can contribute to increased inflammation, disease, and changes that may affect the body more broadly. We recognize these connections and consider them in the care we provide. Our goal is to help you maintain a healthier mouth, preserve function, and support your long-term health and quality of life.
A Wider View of Oral Health
Your mouth is part of your body—not separate from it. Oral bacteria, periodontal inflammation, and the ability to chew comfortably can have implications beyond your teeth and gums. We consider these connections when planning preventive dental care to support oral health and whole-person wellness.
When gum tissues are inflamed, oral bacteria and bacterial products can enter the bloodstream. Researchers study how this may contribute to inflammatory processes elsewhere in the body.
Periodontitis involves a persistent immune response. Oral and systemic conditions may influence one another through inflammation and shared risk factors.
Microorganisms in the mouth can reach the lungs through aspiration or travel into the digestive tract when swallowed—especially relevant for medically vulnerable patients.
What the Research Is Exploring
Some connections are well supported; others remain under investigation. Our approach respects that distinction.
Studies link periodontal disease with cognitive impairment and investigate whether oral microbes, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, contribute to neuroinflammatory pathways. A causal role in Alzheimer's disease—and prevention through dental treatment—has not been established.
Periodontitis is associated with cardiovascular disease. Oral bacteria, their products, inflammation, and common risk factors are possible explanations. Periodontal treatment may improve certain risk markers, but has not been proven to prevent heart attacks or strokes.
Oral microorganisms can be aspirated into the lungs and may contribute to pneumonia risk, particularly in frail older adults and those with difficulty swallowing. Thoughtful daily oral care matters as part of overall care.
Oral microorganisms are swallowed every day. Research is exploring connections between oral microbial imbalance, the intestinal microbiome, and digestive and inflammatory conditions. Many mechanisms remain emerging science.
This is among the best-established two-way relationships: diabetes can worsen periodontal disease, while periodontal inflammation can complicate glucose management. Treating periodontitis can modestly improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
Protecting teeth, gums, and bite function helps patients chew a varied, nourishing diet. When teeth are damaged or missing, restoring comfortable function can support food choices, confidence, independence, and quality of life.
A Closer Look at Oral Pathogens
Gingipains are enzymes produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium associated with periodontal disease. They help the bacterium interact with its environment and can contribute to damage to periodontal tissues and changes in immune responses. Scientists are also investigating their possible role in conditions beyond the mouth.
It reinforces the value of assessing periodontal health, managing active oral disease, explaining personal risk factors, and keeping preventive care consistent—not using unproven tests or treatments as guarantees of systemic benefits.
Our first responsibility is to help you understand your oral health. We work to prevent disease and preserve your natural teeth and supporting bone and gums. When damage has occurred, we aim to restore comfortable chewing, durable function, and the ability to enjoy nourishing foods. We consider your medical history, medications, and goals, and coordinate with your physicians when appropriate. Our ultimate goal is to support lifelong wellness, overall health, and quality of life by improving your oral health.
For those who want to go beyond the summary, these links lead to original research and independent patient education. Studies vary in their strength and do not all establish cause and effect.
We see aging as a chapter of life that deserves its own kind of care. Teeth tell the story of the life a person has lived — and they are beautiful at every stage. Whether you are seeking care for yourself or for someone you love, we begin with a careful assessment of what is present, what is functioning, and what needs attention. We consider what you or your family hope for, what your oral health requires, and what is achievable given your overall health and circumstances. We guide you through every step of your care.
What We Offer
Meet Your Doctor
Doctor of Dental Surgery · Los Gatos, CA
Dr. Amruta Hendre has practiced dentistry in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade. She completed a multidisciplinary geriatric fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she gained valuable experience caring for older adults, veterans, and patients with complex medical needs at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Laguna Honda Hospital, and On Lok centers in San Francisco.
She is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of the Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco.
Her experience has shaped an approach to dentistry that considers each patient's overall health, individual needs, and quality of life.
Evidence-based approach with a focus on the oral-systemic connection
Experienced in comprehensive and restorative dentistry, with additional training in geriatric dental care
Trusted by specialists and primary care providers through referrals
Committed to oral health, lifelong wellness, and quality of life at every stage of life
Patient Voices
As a retired dentist, I have found Dr. Hendre to be very caring and professional.
After experiencing my first appointment, I’m writing my own review to let you know that good isn’t accurate.
I very much appreciate her skills and refer my friends and family to her services.
Get in Touch
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