Conditions Linked to Dental Health
Home > Patient Education > Conditions Linked to Dental Health
The emergence of complete health dentistry has seen an astounding advancement in the dental industry as researchers find a connection between oral and general health. The mouth is the leading entryway to the body and is known as the window to a person's general health. A complete health dentist understands the connection between oral and overall health, running their practice on the application of modern dentistry with a focus on systemic relief.
Complete health dentistry is available at Scottsdale Dental Studio in Scottsdale and the surrounding area. Our staff can help you learn more about the oral-general health connection.
The mouth and jaw change over time, which can cause dentures to fit poorly. It is possible for improper fit to damage dentures, as misalignment may cause undue stress to the devices when the patient bites down.
Furthermore, metal clasps, more common in dental bridges, can come loose or break off. Some dentures get damaged suddenly from an impact. The American Dental Association recommends dentures be evaluated by a professional when the prosthetic teeth are cracked, broken, or missing.
Patients may find it beneficial to use denture adhesive to help get used to dentures. Dentures should be checked for fit when they become loose and need more adhesive to stabilize. If dentures fall out, the impact could damage and crack them.
Dental problems stemming from behavior, habit, and maintenance affect a person's oral health from birth to adulthood. Maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine is crucial from the moment the first teeth erupt. A healthy routine for adult teeth consists of brushing 2-3 times a day, flossing daily, rinsing before and after meals, and visiting the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
A variety of oral health conditions are primarily genetic and may be out of a person's control. In most cases, health conditions are a combination of genes and the environment. Oral conditions found to be genetic to some extent include periodontal disease, cavities and caries, tooth decay and erosion, oral cancer, cleft lip or palate, and misaligned teeth. These conditions can escalate with improper or inadequate oral hygiene and impact other body systems.
Complete health dentists understand the oral and general health connection and implement this understanding throughout their practice. They utilize only biocompatible, non-toxic materials, eliminate infections in the mouth that can affect other systems, and promote optimal health between the jaw, head, teeth, and neck structural relationships. The main difference is that a complete health dentist identifies areas of oral disease and structural dysfunction that may be impacting your overall health, pinpoints the causes, and treats these issues using holistic methods.
Some of the treatments complete health dentists provide are natural dental cleanings that do not involve the use of fluoride, dental fillings that are BPA-free & metal-free, IV therapy, nutritional counseling, crown replacement using metal-free components, and metal-free dental bridges. They can also refer a patient to a complete medical professional who can examine them for issues found by the dentist or related to oral health concerns.
Complete health dentists first target essential problems that can cause tooth decay and tooth loss, such as cavities and caries. They also test for gum disease and periodontal disease to detect harmful bacteria, as many of the symptoms do not arise until there is a significant effect on the teeth. They also conduct an oral cancer screening to catch the disease in its early stages, which can eliminate it while also preventing other diseases from occurring.
Yes. Complete health dentists and complete health physicians work hand-in-hand to relieve symptoms and target issues that affect both the mouth and other body systems. A complete health physician understands whether a general health condition is related to oral concerns. A patient can be referred to either when diagnosed with an issue, and oral and general concerns can be combated simultaneously to achieve more effective results.
By understanding the oral-systemic health connection, complete health dentists can detect diabetes, leukemia, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease, among other conditions. They can also recognize eating disorders, heavy drinking and smoking, stress, anxiety, and pregnancy.