Going
to the dentist used to be about teeth cleanings, filling cavities, pulling
wisdom teeth, possibly a root canal and learning if braces were in your future.
Not any more, as medical research is continually uncovering strong links between
the health of your mouth and the overall health of your entire body.
Modern medicine has shown that bacteria, infection and inflammation in
your mouth can lead to problems in the rest of your body. We now know
that there is a direct relationship between periodontal (gum) disease and
diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pancreatic cancer and even early term
pregnancy. Given these important findings, the dentists at The Dental Care Group are at the forefront of taking a holistic approach to treating their
patients.
Upon
first visiting The Dental Care Group, patients are asked to complete a detailed
medical history. Then, before any treatment is begun, each patient will
have their blood pressure taken. On multiple occasions, when extremely high
blood pressure has been detected, patients have been sent directly to their
physician's office or to the hospital to seek urgent care as their previous
undetected problem required immediate attention.
Next,
in addition to routine radiographs, a panoramic radiograph is
performed. Panoramic x-rays are very high tech and cover a broader
area than conventional intraoral x-rays and, as a result, provide valuable
information. They can reveal an existing issue or potential problems
such as advanced periodontal disease, oral cysts, tumors and oral cancer,
impacted teeth, TMJ and sinusitis.
Patients are
then offered the opportunity to take a simple OralDNA® salivary test.
This test analyzes a patient’s saliva to determine if there are elevated levels
of bacteria by identifying and analyzing 11 different types of
microbes related to periodontal disease. Patients with elevated bacteria
levels are prescribed customized hygiene procedures and antibiotics which
target the specific bacteria at issue, thereby eliminating a risk factor for
other medical problems.
A
six-step oral cancer screening is also conducted. Using this process, the
health professionals at The Dental Care Group have identified cases of oral
cancer at their earliest stages enabling patients to successfully treat their
disease. As part of their dental team, The Dental Care Group has a board
certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon on staff to develop a specific
treatment plan if oral cancer is present.
At
the end of the visit each patient is educated about the latest in dental stem
cell research. When teeth come out during normal dental care, the stem
cells inside can be saved for future potential medical or dental use. Patients
can opt to preserve stem cells from baby teeth, wisdom teeth or healthy teeth
extracted for orthodontic reasons.
The
doctors at The Dental Care Group plan for the immediate and long term health of
their patients. Dr. Mars, Dr. Glicksman or Dr. Coussa review all of the
above information with each patient and discuss their personalized road map to
achieving a healthy mouth, a healthy body and a beautiful, confident
smile. Through continuing education and the acquisition of the latest
technology, the doctors practice a holistic approach which provides total health
and wellness for their patients.
Edited by: Madison Mills
"Multiple
Sclerosis is a progressive disease for which there is not yet a cure." Do you
have a family member or friend struggling with this?
