My team and I have been privileged to spend a few days with some of the leading experts in the relationship between your dental health and your overall health. These are pioneers in their respective fields and have spent their entire careers focused on wellness and how to best help their patients achieve the highest levels of health that are possible. The things that we have learned have brought a renewed sense of passion and urgency to achieving health. Their teaching has caused us to carefully examine our structures and how we guide our clients on their health journey.
We have always given our best to each of you individually and continually look at the most current scientific data and where that is leading. The literature is now very clear about correlations between the bacteria that is in the mouth AND cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, and other debilitating diseases. According to the American Heart Association, every 34 seconds an American will have a heart attack and every minute someone will die. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke and every 4 minutes someone dies of that stroke. Not only is cardiovascular disease a major concern, but inflammation is related to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This knowledge has changed our paradigm of how we can coach people toward wellness. As the illustration below shows, we must look to the root of the tree to find causes.
In the past, we have always tried to solve biological problems (bleeding gums, decay, etc) with mechanical solutions. While mechanical solutions such as scaling and root planning help to set up the environment for the body to begin to heal itself, in many people, no matter what we work on together, they still bleed. Any sign of bleeding is an open wound and equivalent to having a cut on your scalp that never heals!
The same way that bacteria affects the gum tissue and your arteries, it is acidic and causes decay. Decay is a chronic inflammatory disease that must be eliminated! We now have tools that will help us zero in on root causes and totally personalize treatments.
Most of the healthcare system in America works in the DISEASE MANAGEMENT mode. Insurance is designed to assist in paying for end stage disease. This is not a preventive model. It is a vicious cycle with no end because it never gets to the underlying cause. It is the standard of care – the equivalent in school of a C- grade!
There are 4 steps to a better life. They are illustrated below:
A mouth totally healthy has 3 specific qualities:
1. No bleeding or inflammation
2. ALL teeth sealed with non-toxic material – no cracks or open margins in the teeth or around the restorations
3. No wear on the teeth – a balanced bite with balanced forces
Our only goal is to help you make the best decision that is appropriate for you and help you take complete control of your wellness. You can choose if you want to just manage your disease, or change your life in a way that gives you the freedom of quality of life. As we work together, thank you for trusting us with your families and friends.
To great teeth and a better life,