In the course of my practice, I have often been questioned that being a proficient dentist and efficiently practicing Special Needs Dentistry, why did I choose to study Higher Medicine? Patients often wonder why I need to collect their medical history and ask important health questions.
Well, being discontent with the excellence in the field of Dentistry, I decided to go for MBBS from UK since I firmly believe that Dentistry should not be restricted to being good craftsmen, but it should be able to promote the good overall health of the patient.
Dentistry and Medicine are two separate fields of study. But this artificial division is being proved to be appalling for the patient’s general health.
I consider, as we are one body, it is time we bring the mouth back to the body.
Let me explain what called for the Oral Health to be integrated into the chronic disease prevention programs and medicines.
To Start With
The very first dental school was established in Baltimore, US back in 1840. Instead of focusing on Medicinal aspect of Dentistry, it centered on the tremendously good craftsmanship of the dentists. Soon dentists and doctors realized that an infected tooth can contaminate other parts of the body too and in early 1900’s Dentistry started shifting back towards medicine.
I witnessed the growing body of evidences that link the health of the teeth and gums to the rest of the body, and thus, decided to forge connections between the medical and dental worlds. My present Dental Practice Philosophy revolves around Mind, Body and Soul Medicine. I opted for Medicine after my Dental Specialization as I realized:
- Periodontal disease, which is also known as gum disease, is linked to the growth of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Pregnant women with periodontitis are likely to build up pre-eclampsia, a potentially grave complication of pregnancy, and deliver low birth-weight babies.
- It has been observed that around 80% of the Asian populace suffers from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. The medication of these diseases comprise of the severe side effect that knocks off the salivary gland. The mouth containing comparatively less saliva is more prone to Oral diseases. While treating such patients, dentists have to correlate both these aspects simultaneously. This can be approached only with the profound knowledge of Medicine along with Dentistry.
- TMJ (Tempero-Mandibular Joint) Disorders should include CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapies) if stress is outlined as the main cause along with Dental treatment modalities.
- Recently, researchers have discovered some definite links between periodontal disease and heart disease. And I am sure that, in the near future, we will be able to identify more correlations between oral health and other diseases of the body.
Medicine is Fundamental for Substantial Dentistry!
Dental education in Dental Schools today produces exceptional and skilled clinicians with an in depth understanding of Oral Health but their perspective on overall health is often limited. Whereas, it calls for a complete medical history to investigate and diagnose the underlying medical causes to effectively provide dental solutions.
All thanks to my meticulous study of Dentistry and Medicine that I have been able to determine the close connection between Oral Health and Overall Health. I use urbane methods for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Oral diseases.
