More Than Just Teeth: Dr. Ben on the Mouth-Body Connection, Your Overall Wellbeing
I’m Dr. Ben, and my passion for dentistry goes beyond fixing teeth. At Smilebody and my clinic in Santa Clarita, my team and I specialize in complex cases, including 3D bone reconstruction and comprehensive smile rehabilitation. But what truly drives me is the deep, often overlooked connection between your oral health and total overall well-being.
Challenging the “Just a Dentist” Mindset
In the past, hearing the phrase “you’re just a dentist” felt dismissive. Dentistry is about so much more than teeth! Sadly, this outdated view separates dentistry from medicine, as if the mouth exists in isolation. This is why hospitals worldwide often lack onsite dentists – an invisible barrier exists between our fields. It limits collaboration and patient care and one’s ability for true overall wellbeing.
Beyond Tooth Extractions: Bone Surgery and Immune Health and Wellbeing
Every tooth extraction is a form of bone surgery. The jawbone contains marrow – a core part of the immune system. When a tooth is lost, this precious marrow is exposed to the bacteria-filled oral cavity. This isn’t the standard of care in any other surgical field, so why is it acceptable in dentistry? How is it affecting your overall wellbeing?
Hidden Inflammation: Impacts on Overall Wellbeing
We dentists have an incredible range of treatments: root canals, implants, restorations, and more. But what if, without realizing it, past procedures are now contributing to hidden inflammation in your body? This could be quietly undermining your systemic health, especially if you struggle with autoimmune diseases or cancer.
Countless studies link oral disease and systemic problems. If bacteria from gum disease can harm overall health, what about old extraction sites with hidden infections or a decades-old root canal? It’s time for our profession to start asking deeper questions!
Smilebody’s Integrative Approach To Overall Wellbeing
We need better ways to screen for low-grade, chronic infections or inflammation in the jawbone. These could be naturally occurring or the result of past dental work. We need tools beyond basic X-rays, such as MRI, CT, or blood panels, much like the rest of medicine uses. Updating our diagnostics allows us to truly be partners in your overall health journey. At Smilebody we have the latest technology to allow us to do this, read more here.
The Challenge: Time, Education, and Patient Understanding
Dentists face barriers: limited appointment times, lack of full-mouth diagnostics as standard practice, and sometimes resistance from patients who just want a specific tooth addressed. At Smilebody, we recognize these issues and work to overcome them to restore your overall wellbeing.
My Goal: Elevating Dentistry’s Role in Whole-Body Care
I believe dentists have a unique opportunity to support patients in ways that go far beyond a beautiful smile. By shifting our focus to include immune health and systemic collaboration, we can reshape the way our profession is viewed and, more importantly, dramatically improve the lives of our patients.
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