Dentistry & Medicine Working Together

Oral health is often seen as a separate medical field, yet as the video suggests, disease in the oral region can be a cause of wider illness.

All too common periodontitis is a source of bacteria which have an easy path to the rest of our body, disseminating inflammation as they go.

Neither should we forget that our mouth offers a window to our health. Signs in the mouth can be visible before normal symptoms of cardiac issues, HIV, infertility, skin, blood, or bone disorders.

A Two Way Signal

Oral changes acting as a roadmap to disease, or periodontitis creating other conditions are medical reality. Seeing either and grasping the meaning is vital.

We are fortunate that in a maxillofacial clinic, most of our consultants are dual qualified in medicine and dentistry. An ability to understand and act on implications is built in.

Seeing this happen on a wider basis would be welcome. Physicians referring their patients to dental specialists, or the other way around.

Research has shown the advantages this can bring, with almost all medical conditions benefiting from prompt intervention. Oral symptoms also often apply to widespread conditions.

There are rarities which are harder to pick up but the relationship between periodontitis and diabetes, heart, or kidney disease is widely recognised.

Mortality is higher if patients have periodontitis in addition to kidney disease. The same applies to the increasing number of people with type 2 diabetes.

More Than Treatment

Treating periodontal disease is a crucial step. A condition which by nature grows worse, brings oral decay and can trigger illnesses such as diabetes.

Oral treatment could avoid this, alongside cardio-renal complications. By halting periodontitis, a specialist is stopping more and at the same time, looking for more.

A good dental clinic should ensure they carry out the periodontal care you came for to a high standard but they must remain aware.

Bringing great oral health to patients is welcome but preventing, or spotting signs of unconsidered illness may be a greater gift.

All Round Benefit

The financial impact can matter in healthcare. Joined up treatment saves money, for a health service, those choosing to pay, or their insurers.

More importantly, spotting early signs saves a need to undergo invasive medical treatment, avoids stress, or disruption and above all, prevents loss of life.

Changes needed are not vast, such as having patients with pre-diabetes checked by a periodontist. Or where a dental specialist sees signs, referring a patient to a cardiologist.

Both are starting to happen a little more, there are national pilot programs but with the possible benefits, this dual care should be normality.

When you visit us for periodontal treatment, the bacteria invading your gingival tissue are a prime target but there will be others. Nature has given us signposts, they should be followed.