Dedicated to Educating the Public about the Health Hazards
of Amalgam Filling, Chronic Mercury Poisoning, Mercury
Detoxification and the Relationship of Oral to Overall Health!
The Relationship of Oral to Overall Health - Page 2
The Role of the Health Professional in Dental Disease
But you may ask, “Isn't dental disease a problem that should be handled by the dentist?” I would wholeheartedly agree if the harmful effects of this disease were only restricted to the mouth. But, as you have read, they are not because they all will have a negative effect on the entire body. You are right that treating dental disease is the responsibility of the dental profession. However, treating the health problems that have resulted from oral health issues is the responsibility of health professionals.
To truly practice whole body, holistic, medicine, you must know whether your patients are in good oral health, and your patients must be aware of the importance of the relationship of oral health to overall health. I believe it's also your responsibility to inform your patients of the role these oral health issues play in overall health and to do everything possible to support their efforts eliminate their source. There can be no doubt that making your patients aware of the systemic effects of oral health issues, particularly gum disease and chronic mercury poisoning, will be invaluable to them and to your practice.
Addressing Oral Health Issues with Your Patients
I want to be very clear that I am not suggesting that you have to become a dentist or provide any form of dental treatment to your patients. Nor are you responsible for a patient following up on your recommendations. But you can’t afford not to address the issue of oral health with them, especially since it could affect the success of your treatment. If you dont', y ou will have an answer why your treatment is not as successful as it was designed and hoped to be. Besides, recommending that they see a mercury free, holistic dentist is really no different than sending them to another medical specialist.
In addition, your patients must be willing—if they are now suffering from gum disease or have mercury amalgam, silver, fillings—to take the necessary steps to eliminate gum disease and to have their amalgam fillings safely removed and replaced. If your patients with gum disease and mercury amalgam fillings are willing to do their part to eliminate the problem, treating any existing health issue will be much, much more successful. If they are not willing, you will still have fulfilled your responsibility.
Solutions
I have long believed that opinions without solutions do not have much practical value. Thus, I offer some solutions that I believe will help you address the health problems created by these oral health issues. There are four important steps in this process.
Following them will not only ensure you are practicing holistic medicine, but also reassure your patients that you are truly treating them as a whole person.
Step One
Because 50% of the population still do not see a dentist regularly you will need to ask your patients three important questions:
• Do they regularly see a dentist?
• Do they now have gum disease?
• Do they now have, or had, amalgam, silver, fillings?
If they don't see a dentist regularly, or have gum disease and amalgam fillings, or don't know, you will need to make it clear that these issues must be addressed and they must be willing to see a a mercury free, holistic, dentist. (I say mercury free because pro-amalgam dentists do not believe these fillings are a health hazard, even though they release significant amounts of mercury vapor.)
Step Two
Request that they have their dentist provide you with a current evaluation of their overall oral health, including whether they have gum disease, its severity, how many amalgam fillings are present, and the results of a complete soft tissue examination for signs of cancer, or other diseases whose signs and symptoms are first seen in the mouth (over 20). This information will allow you to either exclude or include these factors as a contributor to their existing health problems.
If the information from the dentist shows that the patient:
1. Is free of dental disease;
2. Has no mercury amalgam fillings; and
3. Is free from oral cancer, or any other diseases whose early signs and symptoms can show up in the oral cavity;
you can proceed with your diagnosis and treatment planning with the knowledge that oral health problems are not a contributing factor to any of the patient’s symptoms or systemic diseases.
Step Three
If their dental examination shows that the patient has gum disease, and, or amalgam fillings, you need to take a few moments to discuss his or her options. Determine if they are willing to do their share to eliminate any existing dental disease, have their mercury amalgam fillings safely removed and replaced, eliminate any other existing oral infection, and have their mouths restored to optimal health and function.
Step Four
Provide them with a source of information that will educate and motivate them to fulfill their responsibility as a patient. This will be my books and website, or any other source of information that you know will be effective.
Optional
You also have the option of testing patients with amalgam fillings for mercury. There are a number of tests that will provide you with information that they have excess mercury and the most commonly used tests are discussed in my book. Personally, I feel the fecal metals test (Doctor’s Data) is the most effective and is also none invasive and doesn’t require a chelator. You can get information about this test for the healthy professional and patient by Clicking On, Doctors Data.
