Dental disease—dental or medical

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2005 by Andrea H. Brockman

* Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss?

* Do you have receding gums?

* Do you form a lot of calculus (tartar)?

* Do you have any loose teeth?

* Do you clench or grind your teeth?

* Have you lost any teeth due to lack of bone support?

* Have you been told you have periodontal disease?

* Have you ever had deep scaling and root planing?

* Have you had gum (periodontal) surgery?

* Have you had any abscesses?

* Do you have any root canals?

* Have you ever felt sick or noticed a change in your health following a dental procedure?

Holistic Health Means the Whole Body Approach

The dentist must also look upon dental health as an integral part of general health and well-being. When the emphasis is on health, dental skills can be utilized to treat an area of the body where no one else has as much knowledge or expertise. Dentists must feel confident when discussing blood chemistries, detoxification procedures and surgical interventions with patients' physicians. A working relationship between the dentist and other health care providers is not only extremely beneficial, it is conscionable. The communication will not only help to improve the health of the patients, it fosters mutual respect and confidence in services performed by all the members of the health team.

We are all working to improve health and longevity. This is best accomplished by accepting new knowledge and learning from one another. We can build bridges between alternative and mainstream medicine and between the specialists and general practitioners. The only thing that really stops us from making these connections is ourselves. It is our issues and perceptions that tie us down and won't let us move on. For the sake of our patients and to become true to ourselves, we must use our knowledge and our talents to inspire, connect, challenge and support the purpose of our being in practice.

Dentists and Physicians can enhance the quality of their practices, help the patients in ways previously overlooked and perhaps gain a bonus of new and lasting friendships. When incorporating Medicine and Dentistry we are offering a true holistic approach and not just giving our patients "lip-service."

by Andrea H. Brockman, DDS, President

OraMedica International, LLC

P.O. Box 946 * Glenside, Pennsylvania 19038 USA

215-836-9950 * Fax 215-836-9825

Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a company devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the sphere of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and Businesses and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy. She can be reached at 215-836-9950 or drb@oramedica.com. Visit the website: www.oramedica.com.