We’re familiar with the kneebone connected to the leg bone deal, but how familiar are we with the incisor connected to the heart relationship?
As more information and research becomes available to the masses, we keep hearing more about the health of our teeth and gums having a direct connection to our overall health.
We like to purport this advancement in technology, research, and education as something new and wonderful in the world of medical or dental science, but unfortunately we can’t really make that claim because this news is not necessarily new. 
Dentists and doctors have known about this oral systemic connection for some time.
So how come now all the hubbub associated with gum disease and heart health, or diabetes risk factors in dentistry, and mandatory oral cancer screenings?
Because as patients, whether it is medical patients or dental patients, we’re still pretty uninformed and ignorant about the condition of our condition.
Think about it, when do we most often go to learn all we can about a subject – as it relates to our health?
It seems we strive to learn all we can and soak up the knowledge of this or that medical/dental malady only AFTER we learn someone close to us has been affected, or maybe after we’re affected personally.
As patients – both to our physicians and our dentists – we need to do a better job of communicating, asking questions, and paying attention to health news our medical professionals hopefully share with us on an at least semi-regular basis.
And our doctors and dentists need to do a better job of educating us and effectively communicating with their local communities, beyond the quick office visit convo.
A cursory 5 minute conversation once or twice a year is simply not enough time to discuss optimal oral and overall health.
So the next time you hear some scintillating dental health news, don’t be shy – share the info!
If your associates, family, virtual circles, tweeps, yelpers, and facebook friends share their latest Angry Birds score with the whole world, don’t you think a little dental health and oral systemic connection info could go a long way?
Community Based Systemic Health & Wellness Centers
We all can’t be lucky enough to have the pleasure and security of twice yearly visits to a dental office like the HealthCare Connection in Cincinnati, Ohio.
According to a recent local news story, this medical office was recently recognized by DentaQuest Institute and the National Network for Oral Health Access as a “Center of Excellence that has displayed leadership in oral health practice management and has improved the oral health status of its patients.”
The award was presented at the National Primary Oral Health Conference this past October.
We’d like to join in the recognition of Lynda Roberts-Riddle, D.D.S. and her entire staff as trailblazers and forerunners in their ongoing efforts to educate the surrounding community about the oral systemic connection, and their never-ending battle against the cavity creeps!
“This recognition shows that we are making a difference for our patients,” says Lynda Roberts-Riddle, D.D.S., director of The HealthCare Connection’s Dental Center. “Instead of putting out fires, we are creating treatment plans, educating our patients and monitoring their progress while at the same time being fiscally responsible.”
She also stresses the importance of integrating physical and oral health.
“Sometimes people forget how important oral health is as a component of medical health. Our focus is providing a patient centered health home, which encompasses both medical and dental health” says Dolores Lindsay, CEO of The HealthCare Connection.
“We’re very proud of the work that Dr. Riddle and her team have done to improve the oral health of our patients.”
Visit their website and take a peek into the future of healthcare in America – internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/Gyn, family medicine, and…yup, you guessed it, dentistry – all wrapped into a one stop convenient community based total health center.
All they need is a gym, some Wi-Fi, and maybe a coffee kiosk (its teeth whitening job security) – then the problem would be keeping people away from the doctor’s and dentist’s office!
