A note on oral care...

Oral Health is Overall Health!

In the spring of 2000, the first-ever Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health was released. This report highlighted the importance of good overall health, related oral health to overall health, and examined disparities in oral health care across the nation. After examining the current state of this county's oral health, and as part of the Healthy People 2010 campaign, the Surgeon General set several goals to increase oral health standards throughout the population. These goals include decreasing the number of cavities in children, increasing the percentage of children who have dental sealants, and making fluoridated water available to a greater percentage of the public.

In his report, the Surgeon General found that oral health is often an indication of a patient's overall health. In adults, dental and periodontal diseases often correlate with more serious problems, such as diabetes. In children, dental caries are one of the most common infectious diseases. Left untreated the patient could develop more serious and painful oral diseases and suffer from poor self-esteem in regard to perceived poor appearance due to dental disease.

The dangers of poor oral health are not only cosmetic, though. Oral diseases also can provide dangerous bacteria with easy access to a patient's blood stream. In otherwise healthy patients, the immune system is usually able to respond to these threats, but immune-compromised patients are at a much greater risk of developing serious complications this way.

Seeing your Dentist isn't just about filling a cavity or capping your tooth, it is an integral part of you overall physical and psychological health. Keep reading for more insights...

Dr. Kathryn Biery, DDS

Always do what you are afraid to do.

Mountain View Dental Team