Can a Sedation Dentist Open the Door to Better General Health?

Do you have anxiety or fear about dental treatment? You are not alone – studies suggest that about 3 out of 4 Americans experience some degree of dental anxiety. The worst part, however, is that 5-10% of Americans go without needed dental treatment because of it! Hopefully, though, the more prevalent use of sedation dentistry will increasingly help those people get the dental treatment they need.

In the last two decades, a growing body of evidence that links oral health to overall personal health has materialized. For example, the linkage between poor cardiovascular health and periodontal disease has been established in several studies. That the linkage exists is rarely disputed, and some studies suggest that periodontal disease is a causative factor. While the final verdict on that is not yet out, why take chances? Astute dentists who observe periodontal disease are quick to inquire about a family history of heart disease. Similarly, many cardiologists will examine patients’ mouths to look for telltale gum disease as a means of visually assessing risk.

One theory about the periodontal/cardiovascular connection is related to the DNA and RNA of bacteria associated with the arterial plaque that causes many cardiovascular problems. Studies showed that many patients with severe periodontal disease had oral bacteria in their arterial plaque. There are theories that suggest that that the oral bacteria are being released into the bloodstream where they cause inflammation to arteries, and potentially cause a thickening of the arteries. Others believe that the bacteria might set off some reaction that causes plaque to form in the arteries.

More Reasons to Look for a Sedation Dentist

Beyond the cardiovascular health linkage, other interesting medical findings suggest other general health reasons for finding a sedation dentist to help you overcome your dental anxiety or phobia:

-Pregnancy – Observations and studies suggest a strong tie between gum disease and premature delivery/low birth weight.

-Diabetes – That diabetes can adversely affect oral health has been known for many decades, but recent studies suggest that severe gum disease (untreated) can make it difficult to control blood sugar levels.

-Respiratory Health – In hospitals and nursing homes, especially, there is growing evidence that severe gum disease can result in inhalation of bacteria and resultant bacterial pneumonia. Studies are also underway to explore gum disease as causing flares of disease in people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Sedation Dentistry – Safety

In the interest of helping more patients to get treatment for dental issues, more and more state dental regulatory boards are stepping up to the plate to help the general public become more confident in the use and safety of sedation dentistry. Many states, such as North Carolina, have put regulations into effect that call for the dental board to certify that the sedation dentist has participated in approved, recent training on administering sedation as well as sufficient experience. There is more at stake when you neglect getting needed dental care than your dental health. If you have dental anxiety that is keeping you from getting the necessary treatment, look for a qualified sedation dentist who can work with you to overcome those fears.

A leading Dentist in Raleigh, NC provided this information about sedation dental care. Practicing in Raleigh, and is committed to offering high quality Sedation Dentistry and exceptional patient care.

Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye: A Do-It-Yourself Mouth Care System for Healthy, Clean Gums and Teeth

You brush, floss, use mouthwashes, and are concerned about the foods you eat, yet you still require fillings or lengthy cleanings at the dentist. In Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, Dr. Ellie Phillips teaches how anyone can achieve and maintain a truly healthy mouth. Empower yourself as you improve the look and feel of your teeth between dental visits. Your dentist will be amazed at the changes he sees, and you will be thrilled as cavities and gum disease become a thing of the past. Traditional dentistry cannot prevent dental disease. But Ellie’s do-it-yourself daily routine can. Discover how easy it is to reduce plaque buildup, strengthen tooth enamel, repair small cavities, eliminate tooth sensitivity, and improve your overall oral health. Learn about products that hinder your efforts and the risks of bleaching, dental sealants and the wrong use of fluoride. It is time to achieve healthy, clean teeth and gums and wow your dentist at the next appointment.

Praise for Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye:
”An excellent, simplified discussion of complex issues you need to understand to achieve optimal oral health.”
–Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, 17th surgeon general of the United States

”This book, despite its intriguing title, does not denigrate dentists. What it really does is tell readers how best to work with dentists to achieve true preventative care.”
–Milton B. Lederman, PhD, retired director of public aff airs, University of Rochester Medical Center; co-author of Co-existing with Cancer

”As a dentist, the title of this book is shocking! But the information in the book is vital to anyone who wants to minimize dental problems, maximize dental health, and enjoy their smile for a lifetime.”
–Corky Willhite, DDS; fellow, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Reversing Gum Disease Naturally: A Holistic Home Care Program

“Reversing Gum Disease Naturally presents techniques and information so that you can reverse already unhealthy states in your mouth or prevent the onset of gum disease. Sandra Senzon enhances patients’ oral health through traditional as well as holistic methods.”
–Barry Musikant, D.M.D.

“This book allows the patient to be an active participant along with healthcare professionals.”
–Jay P. Goldsmith, D.M.D.

“There is a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel for all those who suffer from gum disease. We ultimately don’t have to lose our natural teeth. Sandra Senzon shows us the many ways in which the mouth is connected to the body, and how, with the use of natural herbal products and proper mechanic techniques, you can reverse gum disease naturally.”
–Joseph P. Green, D.O.S.

Gum disease is the #1 oral health issue for Americans today-and simply brushing and flossing are not enough to avoid it. In this unique book, registered dental hygienist Sandra Senzon reveals how you can prevent and reverse gum disease through natural treatments. You’ll get a new and broader understanding of your mouth as Senzon explains the causes of gum disease, along with the roles that stress, diet, and certain conditions such as diabetes can play in the onset of the disease. She shows you how to work with holistic products, set up an at-home hygiene center, and find the right professional to guide you in the natural reversal of gum disease. There’s even a section for parents on how to help children practice good oral hygiene. Packed with expert tips and motivational strategies, Reversing Gum Disease Naturally will enable you to keep your gums and your teeth healthy and strong.

Whole-Body Dentistry: Discover The Missing Piece To Better Health

Whole-Body Dentistry is an attractive and well-executed lay-person’s guide to sensible dental decision-making. Written in a refreshingly open, simple and accessible first person style, the author’s passion, dedication and vast clinical experience is abundantly clear.Whole-Body Dentistry is logically and compellingly organized starting with a personal account of Dr. Breiner’s journey from an advocate of the “party line” offered by conventional dentistry to an advocate of wellness through data-based (not politically correct) choices. Believing that “if you wish to understand the body and healing, you must be willing to explore and learn from new ideas and from your patient’s responses”, this book serves another function as well. It documents the admirable course which every healing professional should take from predigested teaching to courageous exploration which follows wherever the data leads.

Our culture is currently in the midst of a great paradigm evolution. Scientism (rigidly adhering to dogma) battles science (which dares question all previous truths fearlessly). This is beautifully exemplified by the tension between “conventional” and “alternative” medicines. Practitioners like Dr. Breiner, by following their patient’s clinical realities in integrity, despite personal cost, light the path to the new options for excellence.

But Whole-Body Dentistry does more: by offering simple, clear and concise information it informs and opens possibilities for patients who wish to become active and knowledgeable participants in their health care. Abundant clinical examples illustrate the points of each chapter nicely.

This is a book free of bombast or apology which eloquently provides an essential guide to new concepts and better choices. Written for non-professional audiences, the quality of the information is high enough to provide useful orientation and direction for professionals as well.

This patient education book belongs on the shelves of professionals and in the hands of the public. I recommend it highly.

Rima E. Laibow, MD, Medical Director,Alexandria Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine, Croton on Hudson, NY

The Oral Health Bible

Another health revolution has arrived, says Dr. Michael Bonner in his well-researched new book The Oral Health Bible, and there is no longer any separation between mouth medicine and body medicine. The mouth is completely connected to the body, he says, and is a doorway to achieving peak health and wellness in all the body’s systems.

This informative book contains an action plan for taking charge of our oral health and it educates us and our physicians and dentists by detailing how many debilitating health problems-conditions such as arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature and low-birth-weight babies-are intimately linked to oral
health and hygiene..

Dr. Bonner emphasizes the importance of finding and treating periodontal (gum) disease because, untreated, it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. He sees more gum disease now than he did twenty-five years ago, he says, largely because of the increasing availability of harmful oral hygiene products on the market. Mouthwashes, for example, are generally considered trustworthy, but in reality, they are the cause of 36,000 cases of oral cancer a year. Moreover, 500 people are killed annually from alcohol ingestion related to mouthwashes.

Dr. Bonner discusses safe, effective oral health techniques and products in order to reverse gum disease with its far-reaching negative consequences. He also outlines how nutritional supplements can help deliver potentially enormous benefits to oral, as well as overall, health. In 1910, the Mayo (clinic) brothers said, “A person with a healthy mouth will live ten years longer.”