Health-centered Dentistry
It’s all connected
The mouth is home to over 700 different species of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It has a large microbiome second only to the gut. Some of these organisms are beneficial and some cause disease. When disease causing bacteria and fungi get the upper-hand diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease surface. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and many medications can make things worse by altering your body’s defenses.
But, it works both ways
The health of the mouth can also have an effect on the whole body. Active inflammation in the mouth whether it’s from tooth decay or periodontal disease can increase your risk of many conditions such as:
heart attack and stroke
alztheimer’s disease
head and neck, pancreatic, kidney cancers
arthritis
pre-term birth and low birth weight
The health-centered approach
We start with a detailed look at your medical history and a thorough tooth and soft tissue exam. We’ll use x-rays to locate tooth decay between the teeth and measure bone levels. Oral DNA testing is now available that can identify and measure 11 strains of bacteria that increase risk of systemic disease. Saliva chemistry tests are also now available that measures metrics such as pH, buffering capacity, blood, ammonia, and S. mutans to help tailor preventative treatment plans even more.