Dental Disease, Dental or Medical?
Jan Drew
http://www.takethebite.com/articles/article/3743614/55538.htm
Dental Disease, Dental or Medical?
1 Jun 2005
Dental Disease - Dental or Medical?
By Andrea H. Brockman RN, DDS
There is nothing that people hate as much as going to the dentist. "It's
nothing personal," they used to tell me. The baggage people carried with
them about their real or perceived dental experiences could keep all the
psychiatrists and psychologists in the world busy for the rest of their
lives. My experience of being in the dental profession for 30 years had more
of its share of biting moments than teeth marks on my operating hands. Not
only did I have to deal with a wide-awake patient's anxieties about invasive
procedures in a personally protected and very private space, but I had to
experience their aversion to paying for treatment they would for the most
part preferred not to have. Pulling teeth was easier. In my opinion, when it
comes to dealing with people, dentistry could very well be the most taxing
of any profession.
As if Dentistry Wasn't Bad Enough!
Whether it is visions of Sir Lawrence Olivier in Marathon Man drilling into
a live tooth without anesthesia, Steve Martin as the sadistic dentist in
Little Shop of Horrors, or a murdering Corbin Berson in the farcical horror
flick, The Dentist, the results of such marketing have left indelible marks
on millions of would-be patients. Dentists all over the world have always
been faced with counteracting such damaging slants to the profession.
Children's dentists have invested in so many distractions to make the
experience a positive one early on and adults have found fish tanks,
headphones and virtual movies an adjunct to the valium and nitrous oxide. In
recent years, however, with the advent of Cosmetic Dentistry, dentists have
been able to position themselves much more favorably by appealing to vanity.
Veneers, porcelain crowns, tooth whitening and invisible braces have kept
more dentists in business than restorations for decayed teeth. The artistry
may have quite possibly surpassed durability and functionality in order of
importance for the consumer. Even the healthy practice of teeth cleaning is
more tempting if the end result promises a brighter smile. The reality,
however, is that dentistry needs to be recognized for its importance to
overall health and must establish itself as a profession that is well
respected and totally integrated into the entire health care community.
The Separation of Medicine and Dentistry
There is a group of health conscious Holistic or Biological Dentists who
have filled in the void left by the medical profession over 150 years ago.
Physician specialists, once known as Medical Dentists could no longer
compete financially with the less trained craftsmen dentists performing
dentistry on the masses. Eventually a split of dentistry from medicine
resulted. That had the unfortunate consequence of the physicians ceasing to
be taught in detail about the mouth, diminishing the dental relevance to
health and relegating all repairs to the craftsmen dentists. The dentist,
not being able to practice medicine, could only treat the teeth and related
structures in isolation and not minister to the effected overall health of
the patient. It's almost as if the mouth was not even considered to be
connected to the same body that shared the skeleton, circulatory, nervous,
or lymphatic systems. So what if the mouth is at the entrance to the
respiratory and digestive tracts or in such close proximity to the brain,
spinal nerves and master glands. What's the big deal that the sinuses sit on
top of infected roots of teeth, or the muscles that control chewing,
swallowing and facial expressions are used relentlessly? And is there any
significance that each tooth sits on a different acupuncture meridian?
Dental Infections: A Systemic Health Problem?
Now add the jaw bones, whose complex functions are not fully understood by
even the dental profession. These bones are subject to trauma and infections
arising from unhealthy teeth, gums, sinuses, implants, surgical procedures
and anesthesia injections. What other bone in the body also shares itself
with the outside world? What other bone has as many procedures performed on
it? What other bone shares joints and 32 neurological structures? And what
other bone can have osteomyelitis and deteriorating joints and not be
covered by dental or medical insurance? This very bone, which is not
addressed by the medical profession because of dentistry's turf claim, is
probably the one area of the body that can be easily viewed as a gauge to a
person's overall health. The deterioration of the jawbone from periodontal
disease is really a systemic problem and a proven risk factor for heart
attack and stroke. Upon visual inspection, chronic inflammation is easily
detected in gums and buildup of calculus on the teeth is more readily
observed than calcium plaques in the arteries. Why aren't more doctors and
dentists getting together over this disease?
For years, dentists have been premedicating patients with Mitral Valve
Prolapse to prevent a bacterial endocarditis arising from the pathogenic
bacteria in the plaque that could enter the bloodstream during a dental
procedure. Surgeons recognize the risk of operating when an infection is
present and take the proper precautions Over 70% of the adult population is
in one stage of periodontal disease but few safety measures are taken when
the bacterial plaque is inevitably disturbed each time one flosses and
brushes their own teeth. Are they at any less of a risk for pathogens
entering the blood stream and traveling throughout the body?
How to Bridge Medicine and Dentistry
There are several issues here that need to be addressed.
1. Physicians and other health care providers must come to terms with
being comfortable looking in the mouth at the teeth and gums. They must
recognize that infections, whether in the form of tooth decay or gum disease
are most often local manifestations of a systemic imbalance. How many
doctors ask in the medical history if their patient has had a lot of dental
work, periodontal surgery, bleeding gums, loose teeth or has lost their
teeth? Why when having any cardiac procedure is the question of periodontal
surgery or the presence of periodontal disease conspicuously missing from
the medical history form?
2. The patients need to be educated that periodontal disease is a risk
factor for heart attack and stroke. How many people who are so fearful of
going to the dentist would be more likely to keep maintenance appointments
if they understood that it could increase their life span?
3. The dentists must be considered to be part of the health team and
not relegated to be just the restorer of teeth. And think of the importance
of drilling into a tooth, a neurological entity imbedded in the lymphatic
rich jawbone with proximity to vital structures. Dentists are specialists of
the mouth unable to practice medicine. The limitation of licensure, though,
should not restrict the level of care due the patient. Working relationships
with each of their patient's physicians and other health care providers must
be ongoing. Dentists may need to supply convincing pieces of evidence to
help educate the doctors and raise their level of awareness.
Unbelievable as it may sound, knowing the dental history could possibly save
many from fatal heart attacks, debilitating strokes or surgical
complications. In younger patients, if there is a history of heart disease
in the family, knowledge of the connection to dental health is one of the
best preventive measures.
Open the Eyes as Well as Open the Mouth
The physician can start by actually looking in the mouth and checking the
condition of the teeth and gums. Puffy, red gums generally indicates
infection. Gross calculus can indicate acidity and calcium imbalance.
Decayed and broken teeth are symptoms of discrepancies in body chemistry,
body structure or trauma. Silver colored fillings contain mercury that is
out gassing. Multiple metals from crowns, fillings, braces, partial dentures
and implants react with one another chemically and electro-galvanically.
The mouth, when full of infections, occlusal imbalances and toxic materials
can prevent recovery from any condition in the body. Only the people with
the strongest constitution and immune system can stay above threshold if
dental distress persists in the presence of compromised health. Working with
a Biological dentist can turn out to be indispensable for the physician and
a blessing for the patient.
If not already doing so, the physician should add the following dental
questions to the health history.
ü Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss?
ü Do you have receding gums?
ü Do you form a lot of calculus (tarter)?
ü Do you have any loose teeth?
ü Do you clench or grind your teeth?
ü Have you lost any teeth due to lack of bone support?
ü Have you been told you have periodontal disease?
ü Have you ever had deep scaling and root planning?
ü Have you had gum (periodontal) surgery?
ü Have you had any abscesses?
ü Do you have any root canals?
ü Have you ever felt sick or noticed a change in your health following
a dental procedure?
Holistic Health Means the Whole Body Approach
The dentist must also look upon dental health as an integral part of general
health and well being. When the emphasis is on health, dental skills can be
utilized to treat an area of the body where no one else has as much
knowledge or expertise. Dentists must feel confident when discussing blood
chemistries, detoxification procedures and surgical interventions with
patients' physicians. A working relationship between the dentist and other
health care providers is not only extremely beneficial, it is conscionable.
The communication will not only help to improve the health of the patients,
it fosters mutual respect and confidence in services performed by all the
members of the health team.
We are all working to improve health and longevity. This is best
accomplished by accepting new knowledge and learning from one another. We
can build bridges between alternative and mainstream medicine and between
the specialists and general practitioners. The only thing that really stops
us from making these connections is ourselves. It is our issues and
perceptions that tie us down and won't let us move on. For the sake of our
patients and to become true to ourselves, we must use our knowledge and our
talents to inspire, connect, challenge and support the purpose of our being
in practice.
Dentists and Physicians can enhance the quality of their practices, help the
patients in ways previously overlooked and perhaps gain a bonus of new and
lasting friendships.
When incorporating Medicine and Dentistry we are offering a true holistic
approach and not just giving our patients "lip-service."
Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a company
devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the sphere
of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and Businesses
and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy. She can be reached
at 215-836-9950 or d...@oramedica.com. Visit the website: www.oramedica.com.
Dr. Andrea Brockman
Tony Bad
"Jan Drew" <jdre...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:ksWRg.4539$TV3....@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
>
> http://www.iwillsayanythingtosellcrap.com
>
> Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a company
> devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the
sphere
> of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and Businesses
> and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy. She can be reached
> at 215-836-9950 or d...@buymyshit.com. Visit the website:
www.buymyshit.com.
>
> Dr. Andrea Brockman
>
>
Jan Drew
"Tony Bad" <spamsp...@bakedbeans.spam> wrote in message
news:vDWRg.8$bQ...@newsfe12.lga...
> Thanks for spreading the Spam.
Nothing to say about the article??
>
> "Jan Drew" <jdre...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:ksWRg.4539$TV3....@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
>>
>> http://www.iwillsayanythingtosellcrap.com
Wrong. I was not selling anything.
>>
>> Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a
>> company
>> devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the
> sphere
>> of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and
>> Businesses
>> and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy. She can be
>> reached
>> at 215-836-9950 or d...@buymyshit.com. Visit the website:
> www.buymyshit.com.
>>
>> Dr. Andrea Brockman
>>
Typical for you, Tony.
Tony Bad
>
> "Tony Bad" <spamsp...@bakedbeans.spam> wrote in message
> news:vDWRg.8$bQ...@newsfe12.lga...
> > Thanks for spreading the Spam.
>
> Nothing to say about the article??
It is a sales pitch. Would you expect a person who makes a living promoting
a certain type of practice to have anything good to say about other
practitioners? Does coke speak well of Pepsi?
T
Jan Drew
"Tony Bad" <spamsp...@bakedbeans.spam> wrote in message
>
> "Jan Drew" <jdre...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:huYRg.6208$7I1....@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
>>
>> "Tony Bad" <spamsp...@bakedbeans.spam> wrote in message
>> news:vDWRg.8$bQ...@newsfe12.lga...
>> > Thanks for spreading the Spam.
>>
>> Nothing to say about the article??
>
> It is a sales pitch.
It is nothing of the sort. It is by a RN DDS.
Would you expect a person who makes a living promoting
> a certain type of practice to have anything good to say about other
> practitioners? Does coke speak well of Pepsi?
>
> T
>
>
Irrevelant. Diversion.
This DDS was one poisoned dentist. Years ago.
Personal Story of a Mercury Poisoned Dentist
My name is Dr. Andrea Brockman. I practiced dentistry for almost 25 years in
Philadelphia, PA. I got my undergraduate degree in Nursing and practiced for
6 years in medical-surgical, intensive care and geriatrics. When working in
hospitals, we were prohibited from entering a room where there were mercury
spills from sphygmomanometers or thermometers. Until the room was properly
cleaned by specialized and protected people, the room was considered a
hazardous site.
It was quite confusing to me to be in dental school and be in a student
clinic of 300 dentists placing amalgams, spilling more mercury on the floor
than 300 thermometers. My questions to instructors of why we were handling
such a poisonous substance evoked anger and the same stock answer, "It gets
locked into the filling and becomes inert." Well, even if that were true, it
still made no sense to me at all that the dentists were squashing the excess
mercury out of the amalgam in squeeze cloths and burning the caked on
amalgam from condensing instruments. In those days, we didn't wear gloves or
masks.
I never put two and two together that when I started working in the clinic
that I ended up in the hospital with heart arrhythmias, started getting
panic attacks, migraine headaches and later that year a miscarriage. I was a
previously healthy 25 year old and attributed my new problems to the stress
of being in dental school.
Composite resins were just coming out for anterior teeth and were not strong
enough for posterior teeth. Our materials were limited to amalgams or gold
foils for direct restorations. We were taught to place pins in teeth for
larger restorations and polish amalgams for greater longevity. Each time we
placed, polished and drilled out old amalgams, the dentist and everyone else
in the room was exposed to mercury vapor. I couldn't tell you how many
micrograms of mercury were coming out of fillings, but it doesn't take a
rocket scientist to figure out that dental personnel are being exposed to
dangerous amounts.
Every business that uses mercury has specific procedures coming down from
OSHA for protection of employees and the EPA for protection of the
environment. There have never been any guidelines for protection of dental
workers nor for the protection of the water where tons of mercury from
excess amalgam from newly placed fillings and drilled out fillings go into
the suction system directly into the water. I've heard the statistics that
60% of the mercury at the water treatment plants is coming from dental
offices.
In the earlier years of my practice when I was pregnant and placing and
removing amalgams without any masks or gloves, I became very concerned that
I was now also exposing my unborn child to mercury vapor. There was nothing
I could find in the literature (there was no internet then) that gave me any
statistics on fetal exposure to mercury vapor in dental personnel. I thought
that if anyone had that information, it would certainly be the American
Dental Association. I believed that their interests would be to protect its
members.
I called the ADA and spoke with several scientists and respectfully
acknowledged their position that mercury gets locked into the filling. My
question to them was, "I'm a female dentist and I'm pregnant. I've already
had one miscarriage and it has taken me several years to become pregnant
again. I drill out hundreds of amalgams a week. Could you tell me what my
exposure is to the mercury vapor created by the aerosol of drilling? And how
is this affecting my baby?" The answer I got was, "I'll get back to you."
That was 25 years ago and I'm still waiting.
I had a difficult delivery and had a son that was hyperactive, asthmatic, a
bet wetter, suffers from chronic sinus and digestive problems, periods of
depression, difficulty focusing and impulsive behavior. The gamut of doctors
treated his symptoms but the problems were never corrected. It was not until
he was in his late teens that I had him tested for mercury. Provoked urine
challenge test showed that he was loaded with mercury and there was no other
possible place he could have been exposed other than from me in utero or
through my breast milk.
I was also tested and showed large amounts of mercury on provoked urine
challenge tests. The science that the ADA produces has not definitively
proven that the mercury in amalgam is not linked to any illness. They
continue to espouse that the amount that escapes from the filling is so
minute that it is insignificant.
Cigarettes are a contributing factor in lung cancer and heart disease, but
are not the total cause. There are always other factors. Cigarettes do,
however, present a risk and should be avoided for optimum health. That
doesn't mean that a person who gives up smoking or who doesn't smoke will
never get sick. In the case of amalgams, it is prudent never to have them
placed in the first place. In the case of a healthy person, if removed
safely (precautions should be taken like asbestos removal), it is a positive
health choice. If a person's health is already compromised, it is very
important to have mercury amalgams removed, but only if proper precautions
and strict protocols are followed. Otherwise, the person can be exposed to
more mercury and can deteriorate.
As far as dental personnel are concerned, they need to wake up and start
doing their own research and not taking the word of the ADA that there is no
scientific proof that amalgam is dangerous. Every dentist should obtain the
government's "Toxicological Profile of Mercury" available from the
Department of Commerce through the Freedom of Information Act.
We should demand tests for ourselves and our employees and gather true
health statistics. Dentists are at risk and putting their families at risk.
Even if amalgams are deemed safe, dentists are putting their patients at
risk from placing and drilling out fillings. Hygienists are risking exposure
for themselves and their patients from polishing amalgams. The amount of
vapor released from the heat of friction of a prophy cup can be measured
with a Jerome Mercury Vapor Analyzer. Dentists are putting people, animals,
and fish, if not the entire food chain at risk by not separating out the
mercury in the suction system before it leaves the office and goes into the
water supply.
Forget the debate that amalgams are dangerous for patients. I believe that
if dentists are not protecting themselves they are hiding their heads in the
sand. Irritability is one of the symptoms of mercury toxicity. Perhaps the
anger expressed by the dentists over this issue is not only a need to defend
a long trusted belief, but a reaction triggered by the mercury in their own
systems.
Andrea H. Brockman, DDS
President, OraMedica International, LLC
Tony Bad
>
> > It is a sales pitch.
>
> It is nothing of the sort. It is by a RN DDS.
>
I see your reading skills and ability to process information are as keen as
ever...
From the article YOU posted: (however, I see you snipped this part when you
re-posted...shame on you!)
Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a company
devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the sphere
of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and Businesses
and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy.
She DOES earn a living promoting the practices and processes she wrote
about. That, my dear, makes it a sales pitch.
T
Jan Drew
"Tony Bad" <spamsp...@bakedbeans.spam> wrote in message
>
> "Jan Drew" <jdre...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:EzhSg.14108$Ij....@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>>
>> > It is a sales pitch.
>>
>> It is nothing of the sort. It is by a RN DDS.
>>
>
> I see your reading skills and ability to process information are as keen
> as
> ever...
Insult noted.
>
> From the article YOU posted: (however, I see you snipped this part when
> you
> re-posted...shame on you!)
What shame, Tony. I removed her website it was there for all the see
earlier.
>
> Dr. Andrea Brockman is President of OraMedica International, LLC a company
> devoted (through education and marketing products) to increasing the
> sphere
> of influence and profitability of Holistic Health Practices and Businesses
> and Organizations that support the Holistic philosophy.
>
> She DOES earn a living promoting the practices and processes she wrote
> about. That, my dear, makes it a sales pitch.
>
> T
>
>
So What? You earn your's but STILL using amalgam.
You snipped the reason WHY she turned to holistic health.
I see you snipped this (and did not comment on it.) Shame on you!