The Whole Body philosophy stresses the use of biocompatible dental materials whenever possible. Dr. Michaela McKenzie also works closely with highly qualified health professionals to assist her in her efforts to return the patient to optimal oral and overall health. Her Health-Centered Patient-First approach to holistic dentistry means that she treats the teeth, jaw, and related oral structures, with specific regard to how that treatment will affect the entire body.
The Relationship of Oral to Overall Health
Understanding the relationship of oral health to overall health is very important to us because dental disease, particularly gum disease can cause, or contribute, to many systemic health issues. Chronic Mercury Exposure is a very serious systemic health issue, but are you aware that gum disease can also have a very serious effect on your overall health? The long-held belief that gum disease is a localized, minor disease of the teeth and gums has not withstood the test of time. It is actually a very serious disease of the body. It may originate in the mouth, but left unchecked, the destruction it can cause is definitely not restricted to it. An increasing body of scientific evidence now proves that gum disease can be very destructive to the immune system and increase the risk of:
- Heart attacks by as much as 25%
- Stroke by a factor of 10
- Respiratory disease
- Pancreatic cancer
- Digestive disease
- Preterm low birth weights
Gum disease can also make it more difficult to control diabetes and is now considered a factor in osteoporosis. It can also severely stress the immune system, lowering the body’s resistance to other diseases, and has been shown to actually reduce life expectancy.
The role of gum disease as a contributing and even causative factor in systemic diseases is not debatable. This is a scientific fact! If you have any symptoms of the above health conditions you owe it to yourself to let us diagnose and properly treat these oral health problems.
This article should make you aware that any infection, especially such a serious and long-lasting one as gum disease (and other chronic oral infections), will negatively affect the entire body. But are you aware of just how damaging it is? It has been estimated that if laid out flat on your body, the infected area in a mild form of gum disease would be the size of a postcard. In moderate-to-severe gum disease, the total infected area could cover an area the size of a standard 8 x 11 1/2 sheet of paper.
Don’t be fooled! Gum disease is a very, very serious infection of the body, one that not only involves the skin and soft tissue of the mouth but the underlying bone as well. We believe that if the area of infection described above from moderate to severe gum disease were transferred to your head, neck, or any other part of your body, you would consider this to be an emergency situation and seek immediate treatment. Yet this condition exists in tens of millions of Americans, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I think the most important questions to ask yourself are these:
- Do you actually know the status of your oral health?
- Do you know the condition of your gums?
- Do you have mercury amalgam/silver fillings?
- Do you have other oral infections?
If you care about your overall health and don’t know the answer to those questions you will need to find out!
We are here to diagnose the state of your oral health, effectively treat all of your oral health issues, and provide the necessary education to help you prevent these problems from returning.