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Dentists Need To Spend More Time Addressing Systemic Health

Dentists Need To Spend More Time Addressing Systemic Health
by Manuel A. Cordero, DDS

The links between oral diseases and systemic conditions are strong. Seven of the 10 leading causes of death reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been connected to inflammation and/or bacteria in the oral cavity: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and influenza and pneumonia. As a general dentist, I not only want to treat my patients’ oral health needs, I also want to help them improve their overall health. This is one of the reasons I became a dentist.

The beauty of how impactful the dental industry has become is revealed in our practice of the early detection of systemic health conditions. When a general dentist identifies a condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure early in its development, there is a greater chance of stopping its acceleration and improving the outcome of its treatment.

For example, every day I find some systemic asymptomatic sign of oropharyngeal acid erosion that has been present for more than six months in my patients without them ever thinking they had to see their physician. These patients may have a gastroenterological condition preventing acids from being contained within the stomach and creating chemical burns that could result in voice changes or loss or even neoplastic changes.

The early identification of any such changes could prevent this type of lesion from progressing into a cancerous condition that could have been avoided by early referral to their family physician, otorhinolaryngologist, or gastroenterologist for further evaluation and necessary treatment.

In fact, dentists can monitor such symptoms and intervene to ensure that their patients’ overall health can be improved by the same primary intervention we practice in the dental office during these wellness visits. General dentists are the missing link to the medical community, as we play a significant role in enhancing our patients’ overall health outcomes.

Read full article on Dentistry Today.