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Selecting a Total Dental Health
Poor oral health is often indicative of health problems elsewhere in the body (and vice versa). Unfortunately, many conventional dentists treat isolated conditions instead of addressing the root causes. If you are looking for a more integrative approach to oral healthcare, you may want to choose a total health dentist as your primary dental care provider.
Total health dentistry is available at Dental Care of Morrisville in Morrisville and the surrounding area. Our team knows how to keep a close eye on the oral-systemic link to ensure your overall health. Call us today at (919) 588-3000 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services.
Benefits of Total Health Dentistry
Total health dentists vary from traditional dentists in that they work collaboratively with their patients. Typically, patients go in to see the dentist on an "as-needed" basis. They usually do not receive any basic education on their condition, how it manifested, what other health issues it may be indicative of, and how to address its root causes. Total health dentists deal with all of this and more.
Total health dentists see the patient first, not just the condition. This is crucial since, according to Mayo Clinic, dental health is frequently reflective of overall health. Since the mouth acts as an entryway into the digestive and respiratory tracts, it is also a natural breeding ground for bacteria. While most bacteria are harmless and kept at bay by the body’s natural defenses, poor oral hygiene practices may cause the bacteria to multiply at dangerously high levels, leading to several different oral infections.
“Total health dentists see the patient first, not just the condition.”
Total Health Dentistry and Insurance
Many patients hesitate to try out total health dentistry because of insurance concerns. Fortunately, however, many practices are covered by various health coverage plans. Just as with typical dentists, total health dental exams and cleanings may be covered without any out-of-pocket costs. Cosmetic and restorative treatments, however, may fall outside of insurance coverage.
While dental coverage is considered an essential health benefit for children, it is not considered essential for adults. In other words, all children with health insurance will have dental coverage, but adults may not. All insurance plans are different, so it is important for patients to confirm their coverage with their provider before making any plans.
“Just as with typical dentists, total health dental exams and cleanings may be covered without any out-of-pocket costs.”
Understanding Total Health Dentistry
Unlike traditional dentists, who tend to treat patients as passive recipients of care, total health dentists work collaboratively with their clients to set realistic goals and improve overall health. By providing the patient with a basic education of the state of their oral health, total health dentists empower individuals to make informed choices about their care.
To get the full benefits of their care, patients must shift their view of dentistry as something they seek on an "as-needed" basis and realize instead that it is a vital part of maintenance care. The oral-systemic connection means that proper dental care is an integral part of preventative health.
“By providing the patient with a basic education of the state of their oral health, total health dentists empower individuals to make informed choices about their care.”
Total Health Dentistry and Inter-Provider Communication
As we have already established, the oral-systemic link necessitates that doctors treat patients’ health from a more integrative standpoint. To see the best results from total health dentistry, an individual’s healthcare providers must keep in communication with each other. It is rare for primary care providers to ask patients about their oral health, making it all too easy for certain signs of disease to be overlooked.
Additionally, several conditions exist bidirectionally with oral health. In other words, treating one can also effectively treat the other. Thus, it is imperative that all healthcare providers have an integrative understanding of the patient’s conditions and adjust each treatment plan accordingly. We can work together with each patient’s medical team to formulate the best plan for their unique needs.
“To see the best results from total health dentistry, an individual’s healthcare providers must keep in communication with each other.”
Ideal Candidates for Total Health Dentistry
Though total health dentistry can help virtually anybody, some patients may benefit more than others. Typically, these involve those with chronic conditions. Just as severe gum disease (also known as periodontitis) may be correlated to various systemic conditions, several chronic diseases may lower the body’s resistance to infection. In either case, oral health conditions may be more easily aggravated and common.
According to multiple studies, there is a strong correlation between periodontal disease and various heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction. Other systemic conditions correlated with oral health include, but are not limited to, diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. Often, the symptoms of periodontitis are not obvious until it has already progressed. Keeping regular appointments with a total health dentist can help ensure that patients are staying in good health.
Questions Answered on This Page
Frequently Asked Questions
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Dental Terminology
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person's teeth, gums and/or bite.
Dental Cleaning
Dental cleanings are a preventative dentistry service in which the dentist removes accumulated plaque and tartar to protect teeth from dental caries and other oral health problems.
Diabetes
Diabetes refers to a group of diseases that affects how the body produces or responds to the hormone insulin and causes high blood sugar.
Oral-Systemic Link
The oral-systemic link refers to the link between oral health and systemic health.
Oral Bacteria
Oral bacteria refers to the microbes that reside in the oral microbiome.
Oral Infection
A group of infections that occur in the oral cavity, including cavities, gingivitis, periodontal and gum disease, thrush, Herpangina, and oral herpes.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the patient's bone mineral density and mass decreases.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a lethal gum infection that results from poor oral hygiene, damaging soft tissue and destroying the bones that support the teeth.
Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on restoring teeth to their previous health and function.
Total Health Dentistry
Total health dentistry is a form of alternative dentistry that focuses on the total health of the patient.