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How To Introduce The Importance Of The Oral-Systemic Link To Your Patients

How To Introduce The Importance Of The Oral-Systemic Link To Your Patients
by Jim Hyland, DDS

Drs. Brad Bale, Amy Doneen, and David Vigerust stated in a recent study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal that “high risk periodontal pathogens cause atherosclerosis.” This groundbreaking, peer-reviewed article should forever set the course of our mission to properly diagnose and treat periodontal disease by using predictable solutions to stop the infection. But first, we have to inspire and motivate patients to control their biofilms, demonstrate a different technique to disturb and disrupt the biofilm, and create a healthy oral environment that they can maintain.

Let’s look at inspiration. The WIIFM (what’s in it for me?) question must be answered before patients will change their behavior. For example, Mr. Smith was a new emergency patient who had a loose tooth No. 28. He wanted it out, along with the other 6 lower teeth. Instead, he wanted 4 implants and a denture so he wouldn’t have to worry about his teeth anymore!

When I saw him, I noticed his hands were swollen and he had bent fingers. He said he had rheumatoid arthritis. When I asked how it was, he said it was painful and it made it hard to clean his mouth. His medical history listed 2 strokes as well as the placement of stents. Then I asked what it was like to have a stroke. He said it was terrible with a long recovery, and he didn’t want to go through that again. I had set the stage to introduce the oral-systemic link as a lever to change his attitude and ultimately his behavior when it came to regular dental care and preventive intervention.

When he learned that his loose tooth was caused by a bacterial infection that did not stay in his gums, but spread throughout his body via the bloodstream, and that these bacteria were responsible for systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart attacks, and strokes, his attitude changed from disinterest in saving his teeth to one of “What can I do about it?”

I emphasized that these pathogenic bacteria had been in his blood stream constantly for decades, causing disease in his body just as they did with his gums. To support my statements, I quoted studies proving that rheumatoid arthritis and his strokes were likely caused by the very same bacteria that were also loosening his teeth. I gave him a copy of the Postgraduate Medical Journal study with the relevant section highlighted about heart attacks.

Read full article on Dentistry Today.