Mark Allen explains how dentistry plays an important part in wider general health and wellbeing.
In the months to come, you could notice a change in the demand for certain services. Once any backlog of routine appointments has been smoothed out and normal scheduling is back in place, you may see people are placing a higher value on their oral health than ever before.
The focus on prevention has been around for a while – the issue is that most patients don’t read the dental journals! You will have been doing what you can to deliver the message, often with limited resources (including time), but obstacles have remained. For example, if your practice provides the bulk of its services to an elderly population, they will have a background of little or no preventive education. That’s not to say you won’t see any older patients with beautifully looked-after teeth and gums, but truly understanding the value of prevention may require a shift in mindset for many. It’s also fair to say that for every age group the overlap between good oral health and general health is often underappreciated. Again, the limited amount of time you have with patients can hinder a discussion about how something as simple as brushing their teeth properly can help them to avoid, or reduce the risk of, developing serious systemic diseases in the future.
We are living and working in changed times and one difference between ‘then’ and ‘now’ is that there won’t be many of us not committed to a programme of improved self-care. Therefore, some of our patients’ needs and values will have changed, or at least been re-prioritised. Good health, including good oral heath, is both a necessity and a privilege.
We have also been reminded that self-care is as much about taking care of the mind as the body. When we’re making the right choices for a healthy lifestyle, including our oral hygiene practises, we feel more positive, less stressed and ready to take on the world. Oral health is also a factor in the conversation around mental health and wellbeing. Dental disease can exacerbate psychological disorders like stress, anxiety and depression, especially when it affects social behaviour, such as the willingness to interact socially.
Fundamentally, it’s about all of us knowing that our own needs are important and to be willing to put them centre stage. For your patients, the value of maintaining good oral hygiene, to support their needs of general good health and wellbeing, not just now but for the long term, has never been clearer. So, they’ll be looking to their dentist to help them improve their dental hygiene and keep it maintained at a high standard. You’ll find that your patients will be more receptive to the prevention message than ever before, as people are keen to learn what they can do to become healthier and happier and, crucially, act on these lessons.
Helping your patients improve how their smile looks is also key. In fact, with the recent re-jig of what many of us truly value and appreciate, it’s the so-called ‘little’ things that have proven to be incredibly important. Along with (finally) getting a proper haircut, aspiring to a better-looking, more beautiful smile that means they don’t want to hide in the background of photos, shouldn’t ever be considered a superficial need. There is a large body of evidence to support the psychological benefits of smiling. If someone has a smile that they are proud of, and they are smiling regularly, it will improve their wellbeing – and brighten the day of anyone who receives one.
Patients should be encouraged to improve their smile, as part of this era of better self-care.
If they are exploring the possibility of restorative work for the first time, they may be surprised at how efficiently and cost-effectively it can be delivered – often in a single visit, if the dentist is using certain tools and materials. Coltene’s Brilliant Componeer will deliver a beautiful smile in one session; the prefabricated veneer shells also exhibit great polishability and long-lasting gloss.
Of course, restorative treatment isn’t just about looking better to feel better. It will help to prevent, intercept and/or manage future disease by making the teeth and whole oral cavity easier to keep clean. Situations like food trapping, or painful tooth wear are the enemies of long-term oral hygiene; restorative dentistry should always be approached holistically.
Your patients will want to know what they can do to enjoy better oral health now and for years to come. Practices should take a proactive, positive approach, to offer an ongoing, flexible programme of daily care. You now have a valuable opportunity to show your patients how you and the whole dental team want be their partner on a lifelong journey to better health, wellbeing and happiness, so make sure you grab it.