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Dr. R. Tom Glass, DDS

Bio

Dr. Richard Thomas “Tom” Glass is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist who for over 40 years treated patients clinically and performed microscopic analyses on humans and animals.  He has published over 125 articles and abstracts on a wide range of topics in peer-reviewed journals and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Lecturers in Continuing Dental Education.  His published research on transmission of both oral and systemic infectious diseases by toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothpicks, floss, dentures, make-up, contact lenses, protective athletic mouth-guards, band musical instruments, and pacifiers has led to important changes in use and care of these devices.  He has also published studies on HIV/AIDS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He is presently Professor of Forensic Sciences, Pathology, and Dental Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Microbiology at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also Professor Emeritus of Oral Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.  For over 23 years, he was the Chief Forensic Dentist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (Oklahoma).  While he has been involved in over 4000 medical-legal cases in his career, he is probably best known for directing the dental team that identified the 167 bodies in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.  He has recently had a textbook published entitled, Practical Forensic Dentistry, to aid dental personnel with the forensic aspects of their practice. 



Specialties:

Affiliation:

  • Professor of Forensic Sciences, Pathology, Dental Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

Location:

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Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dentistry:
    Alligator Study Gives Clues to Regrowing Lost Teeth

    TUESDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- Dentists, as it turns out, may have one more reason than the rest of us to be wary of alligators. The toothy reptiles may one day put those who install implants, bridges and dentures out of their jobs.

    Alligators continually make new teeth to replace t...Full Article

  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How should I choose a toothbrush?

    Before you can decide on the correct toothbrush, you must understand what this device is intended to do. Because nature designed the tooth to be self-cleansing, the only areas that need your help with the toothbrush are the areas between the gum tissue and the front and back of the tooth (the sides must be cleaned with floss).

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    What features should I look for in a manual toothbrush?

    Our research studies of the toothbrush have shown that the most ideal toothbrush is one that has both a clear handle and brush-head and clear bristles. This allows light to penetrate the toothbrush and lesson the contamination of the toothbrush by disease-producing germs. Additional studies have

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    Why did my dentist suggest that I do monthly oral self exams for diabetes?
    The short answer to your question is: diabetics tend to develop oral infections more commonly than non-diabetics. If these infections are observed and treated earlier, the chances of healing are improved.

    Dr. G.


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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How does gum disease affect oral health?
    The gums or gingiva are essential to oral health. Infections of the gums can spread throughout the mouth causing irritation and infection. Gum diseases can spread to the bones that hold the teeth in the mouth, resulting is the early loss of teeth. Finally, the germs that cause gum disease can spread through...  Full Post
  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    What are oral irrigators?

    Oral irrigators are devices that basically flush the area between the tooth and the gum tissue. In so doing, this washes out the bacterial toxins (waste products) and decreases biofilm formation (the network if microbes adhering to the teeth and gums). Because both bacterial toxins and biofilms are

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    I recently noticed a whitish patch in my mouth. Is this oral cancer?

    White patches in the mouth are reactions to irritation and/or trauma. Most of these patches are completely benign and do not represent oral cancer. That said; some oral cancers do occur in conjunction with white patches. Your dentist is the one best qualified to evaluate a white patch and decide whether

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How is thrush (oral candidiasis) treated?

    While Candida albicans, the cause of oral thrush can be treated with anti-fungal drugs, an increasing group of patients have the same symptom, but either different yeast or even bacteria that are not susceptible to the medication. In addition, our published research has shown that devices belonging to

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How common is oral thrush?

    While classical oral thrush is caused by the yeast, Candida albicans, our studies have demonstrated that especially in denture wearers and in debilitated patients, other forms of yeasts and even bacteria may cause the same symptoms. Interestingly, many of these "other yeasts or bacteria" are not

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How do people get the flu?

    Most of the flu's are caused by viruses--microbes that cannot live outside of cells and are subject to drying. Therefore, when looking at ways of preventing spread, it is important to look for droplets of fluid containing contaminated cells. Two of the most vulnerable areas are found in the bathr

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How do people get the flu?

    Most of the flu's are caused by viruses--microbes that cannot live outside of cells and are subject to drying. Therefore, when looking at ways of preventing spread, it is important to look for droplets of fluid containing contaminated cells. Two of the most vulnerable areas are found in the bathr

    ...  Full Post
  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How should I care for my dentures?
    From the moment that you put your dentures into your mouth, they start to become contaminated with germs. These germs do not only live on the denture surface, but they invade the pores of the denture created when the denture was made. Therefore, you must attend to your dentures on a daily basis. Our studies...  Full Post
  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    What denture care will I need to do if I get overdentures?
    Because an overdenture involves not just the surface tissue but also the associated teeth, it requires very fastidious care to limit the disease causing germs. The denture must be soaked in a denture cleaner for a minimum of 8 hours per day. Our studies have shown that such a regimen has the most...  Full Post
  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    Is there a cure for dental cavities?

    The short answer to your question is:  no--there is no known cure for dental cavities. However, we do know that cavities can be caused by a wide variety of germs (bacteria). Anything you can do to either physically reduce the numbers of these microbes or deprive them of food, the more you will reduce

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  • R. Tom Glass, DDS
    R. Tom Glass, DDS answered:
    How can I sterilize my baby's pacifier?

    The short answer to your question is "you cannot sterilize your baby's pacifier." Sterilization means free of all germs. The best that you can hope to do is to sanitize the pacifier (reduce the numbers of germs) by washing it in warm water with an anti-bacterial soap. Even doing this, because the pacifier

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