When you think about visiting the dentist, you probably think about keeping your mouth clean and free of cavities. The reality is that dentistry has a much more significant impact on your health than providing a pretty smile. In fact, there are at least 58 known diseases related to oral health, some of them with significant consequences. A dentist trained to identify the indicators of disease and guide patients to getting the care they need can help people experience greater whole body health.
I’ve seen the incredible ways that diagnosis during a dental exam can impact overall health firsthand. When training to be a dentist, I got to work with a team that helped a man completely turn around his health through dentistry. Our team had this particular patient on the table for oral surgery three times and kept having to stop the mission because his blood pressure was so high he would have had a heart attack on the table. Instead of prescribing more medication, we encouraged him to go through counseling, which led to a series of lifestyle changes, such as eating less processed foods and exercising. Soon enough, this patient regained his health and vitality and could go through with the necessary oral surgery successfully and without complications.
In another experience, a young patient was experiencing sleep apnea, and I was able to identify the problem through a comprehensive exam that includes a routine airway evaluation. I referred the patient to a trusted pediatric ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) and together with an Myofunctional Therapist (OMT) we helped the patient sleep better and alleviate some risk for developing more serious oral conditions that could have included ADHD, ADD, behavioral issues, speech delay, bed wetting, long term sleep apnea development and more.