Over recent years there has been mounting evidence of the impact that our patients’ mouths can have on their general health. With the growing list of diseases where the mouth may have an impact (including diabetes, atheromatous diseases, lung disease, pregnancy complications, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and erectile dysfunction) it is becoming more essential for dental teams to ensure they have the knowledge to confidently discuss with patients the role of the mouth.
The mechanism of action is believed to be due to chronic inflammation and how this impacts on various organs and cells in the body. There are some conditions where the mechanism may be different, for example in the case of Alzheimer’s it may also be that reduced chewing function can affect blood flow to the brain.
Most dental teams are aware of the links, for example with diabetes or pregnancy complications with oral health, however the evidence is that as a profession we are notoriously bad at informing our patients of them. Not only are we doing a disservice to our patients, but we are undermining the importance of the work that dentists do.
Patients are often surprised when they discover that the mouth plays such an integral role on general health, however they are nearly always grateful for this knowledge often more motivated to care for their mouths once they realise the positive impact it will have.
To call ourselves true preventive dentists we need to be sure that we are not just trying to prevent dental disease, but helping our patients to prevent any disease in which the mouth plays a role. I look forward to the day when dental care is accepted as an integral part of patients’ overall health management. Not only will this raise the profile of dentists in the eyes of the public, but it should also secure government funding and support in the long-term.
The Dental Medicine Academy exists to raise the profile of the importance of the links between the mouth and general health. It aims to create a bridge from the academic research to the public domain. Research identifies the links and the mechanisms behind the links, however it is often written using terminology which makes it difficult for the public to understand. Also, the public rarely have access to medical and dental journals and so would not be able to find the information. On the occasions the research does make it into the public domain it is often presented in a sensationalist way and major points are often omitted. The Dental Medicine Academy wants to bring research into the public domain so members of the public can understand the findings of the research. The book Live Another 4006 Days and Improve Your Health with Dental Medicine is written for patients in a way that helps them understand the philosophy of dental medicine. It is also a useful guide for dental teams to ensure they are up-to-date with current research in this field. There is a benefit to everyone by adopting this philosophy of care. Patients will benefit as they will be more motivated to do what they can to prevent dental disease, the profession will benefit as it will raise our profile in the eyes of the public and government, and individual practices will benefit as treatment acceptance will be higher.
References available on request.