I received an email last week that has had me thinking quite a bit. In this letter, a prospective patient asked the unexpected question, “ARE YOU A HOLISTIC DENTIST?” I’ve been thinking about how to answer this all week and I’ve decided that the answer to this question in my case is a resounding yes. My research tells me that holistic dentists consider a patient’s dental health as it relates to their overall health, and this captures the goals of our practice perfectly.
Our dental team is proud to focus on a person’s overall health and systemic health issues as they relate to the treatment of their oral condition. Lets examine the top 3 holistic aspects of dental care at McAdams Dental:
1. Medical History Review – Believe us, it IS important that your dentist know your most current medical information, including what types of prescriptions you may be taking. Are you aware that some very common bone density medications can lead to a very severe adverse reaction when teeth are extracted? Or that a dentist can save you years of agony by handling teeth issues before entering chemo and radiation therapy? Did you know that many common prescriptions cause dry mouth that can devastate your oral health if not addressed with prevention in mind? We review all of this information to help you develop a personal preventative care plan that is specifically tailored to your needs.
2. Thorough Oral Evaluations – We are sticklers for good records at McAdams Dental. These records help us track trends in your teeth and gums that are telling of many common diseases. During routine evaluations, we have identified signs of many systemic conditions that our patients were not aware of. We commonly find characteristic erosion of teeth that suggest patients are suffering from severe nocturnal G.E.R.D. (heartburn), among other conditions. Additionally, our low radiation digital imaging allows us to identify abnormally calcified arteries in the head and neck, and we have treated infected teeth that have been misdiagnosed as recurrent sinus/ear infections for years. As discussed previously in our blog, we also screen every mouth for early signs of oral cancer and many of our patients tell us that our dental chairs are the only place they ever have their blood pressure checked. All of these aspects of your systemic health are evaluated before we ever look for cavities, because we know the importance of a healthy mouth.
3. Periodontal Assessment and Treatment – Our hygienists carefully check your gum pockets and monitor your trouble areas with prevention in mind. Many patients in our practice benefit from a thorough cleaning schedule specifically designed for each patient’s gum condition(s). Perhaps a deep cleaning or a more frequent recall schedule can save you from one of the most prevalent types of persistent bacterial infection and sources of chronic inflammation in the human body. Did you know that your gums may show signs of a wide array of health conditions; ranging from fungal infections to more serious issues like leukemia or HIV. More and more recent medical research correlates the presence of gum disease with other systemic health conditions, such as glucose regulation in diabetics or cholesterol and arterial plaque levels in patients with heart disease. We truly believe that your mouth is the gateway to your overall health and we strive to help you maintain the healthiest body you can by keeping your mouth and gums in top shape.
Are you looking for a dentist who is interested in more than just diagnosing fillings and crowns? Call to schedule an appointment if you are in the Phoenix area and think we might be the office for you. We would be happy to meet you and proud to help you take care of your mouth.
Our dental team is proud to focus on a person’s overall health and systemic health issues as they relate to the treatment of their oral condition. Lets examine the top 3 holistic aspects of dental care at McAdams Dental:
1. Medical History Review – Believe us, it IS important that your dentist know your most current medical information, including what types of prescriptions you may be taking. Are you aware that some very common bone density medications can lead to a very severe adverse reaction when teeth are extracted? Or that a dentist can save you years of agony by handling teeth issues before entering chemo and radiation therapy? Did you know that many common prescriptions cause dry mouth that can devastate your oral health if not addressed with prevention in mind? We review all of this information to help you develop a personal preventative care plan that is specifically tailored to your needs.
2. Thorough Oral Evaluations – We are sticklers for good records at McAdams Dental. These records help us track trends in your teeth and gums that are telling of many common diseases. During routine evaluations, we have identified signs of many systemic conditions that our patients were not aware of. We commonly find characteristic erosion of teeth that suggest patients are suffering from severe nocturnal G.E.R.D. (heartburn), among other conditions. Additionally, our low radiation digital imaging allows us to identify abnormally calcified arteries in the head and neck, and we have treated infected teeth that have been misdiagnosed as recurrent sinus/ear infections for years. As discussed previously in our blog, we also screen every mouth for early signs of oral cancer and many of our patients tell us that our dental chairs are the only place they ever have their blood pressure checked. All of these aspects of your systemic health are evaluated before we ever look for cavities, because we know the importance of a healthy mouth.
3. Periodontal Assessment and Treatment – Our hygienists carefully check your gum pockets and monitor your trouble areas with prevention in mind. Many patients in our practice benefit from a thorough cleaning schedule specifically designed for each patient’s gum condition(s). Perhaps a deep cleaning or a more frequent recall schedule can save you from one of the most prevalent types of persistent bacterial infection and sources of chronic inflammation in the human body. Did you know that your gums may show signs of a wide array of health conditions; ranging from fungal infections to more serious issues like leukemia or HIV. More and more recent medical research correlates the presence of gum disease with other systemic health conditions, such as glucose regulation in diabetics or cholesterol and arterial plaque levels in patients with heart disease. We truly believe that your mouth is the gateway to your overall health and we strive to help you maintain the healthiest body you can by keeping your mouth and gums in top shape.
Are you looking for a dentist who is interested in more than just diagnosing fillings and crowns? Call to schedule an appointment if you are in the Phoenix area and think we might be the office for you. We would be happy to meet you and proud to help you take care of your mouth.
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