Elite Dental of Staten Island

Business Hours
Monday:
9.00am to 5.00pm
Tuesday:
12:00pm to 8:00pm
Wednesday:
9.00am to 5.00pm
Thursday:
9.00am to 5.00pm
Friday:
CLOSED
Saturday:
CLOSED

How modern dentistry goes beyond teeth

There’s a new movement in dentistry — and it’s about much more than the condition of your smile.

When you think about a trip to the dentist, you probably imagine a routine check-up, the process of having your teeth cleaned and maybe a dental procedure like having a filling placed. All of these are common experiences at the dental office, but these days, progressive dentists who are up-to-date with the latest health-related news and research, are spending more time learning about the direct connection between dentistry and overall wellness.

What is oral systemic health?  

Oral systemic health refers to the important and clear connection between your oral health and your overall health. Put simply, the health of your mouth directly affects the health of your body. Similarly, your systemic health — the presence of other health conditions and diseases in your body — can also impact your dental health.

An example of the oral systemic health connection is the link between gum disease and heart-related problems. If you have gum disease, your risk of heart disease and other health conditions increases considerably.

The reality is that infections and inflammation in the mouth can spread to other areas of the body. In fact, research has linked oral health problems with a number of specific systemic diseases, including stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Poor oral health can also affect pregnant women and their unborn babies — pregnant women with gum disease are at a higher risk for low-birth-weight babies, as well as premature labor.

More recently, studies suggest that poor oral health may increase your risk of COVID-19 complications.

Why is a new approach to dentistry so important?  

A new approach to dentistry in which dentists consider the oral systemic health connection is gaining momentum around the world. Dentists are learning more and more about the importance of taking a holistic approach and are sharing this knowledge with their patients in an effort to promote overall wellness.

Various organizations, such as the Kois Center in Seattle and The Wellness Dentistry Network in Bloomfield Hills, have begun to teach dentists to recognize harmful mouth issues that are related to general health. As such, dentists are being encouraged to embrace oral systemic health and to work with other medical practitioners to keep their patients healthy.  

What are the benefits of good oral health?

Maintaining good oral health can benefit your overall health considerably in the long-term and may even help to prevent some serious diseases and disorders. Besides the health benefits of taking care of your teeth and gums, there are also aesthetic benefits — a clean and healthy smile is a beautiful smile!

Other benefits of practicing proper oral hygiene and preventative dental care include the potential to save time and money on complicated dental treatments in the future; and keeping issues like bad breath at bay.

How can we help?

At Elite Dental of Staten Island, we understand that your oral health is about more than your teeth. For this reason, we place our focus on complete oral health and total body wellness. For us, functional dentistry is key when it comes to maintaining your wellbeing and quality of life as a healthy mouth allows to you to eat and speak in comfort.

When you come in and see us with an oral health concern, we will take the time to identify and address the cause of the issue instead of merely treating the symptoms. We treat the entire body as one system and understand that functional dentistry and prevention all contribute to your general wellness.

The team at Elite Dental of Staten Island offers a comprehensive range of dentistry services, including wellness and prevention; airway treatment; dental implants; cosmetic dentistry; general dentistry; dentures; and clear aligners. To see the full list of services that we provide, please have a look here.

To book an appointment, please contact us here or give us a call on (718) 370 1200.