Physicians and Dentists: The Oral Connection

Over the last 30 years or so, the use of alternative/complementary medical therapies has become more widespread in the U.S. Now allopathic (traditional) practices are taking a more holistic approach to healthcare and the trend is continuing to generate more avenues of opportunity.

In addition, as we learn ever more about how the human body works, it’s become clearer to the traditional medical profession that many important clues to one’s health can be gotten from the oral cavity and, thus, it is of increasing importance for physicians and dentists to work together for the well-being of their patients.

In 2010, three professionals founded the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) to bring together professionals from many allied health disciplines. Since that time, the Academy—which also produces a monthly newsletter and webinars—has grown: over 400 professionals participated in its 2013 annual meeting that featured over 27 presentations.

The medical-dental connection continues to build momentum. A recent study, funded by the American Dental Association, reports that as many as 27 million people visit a dentist but not a physician in a given year. The report estimates that, if dentists were to screen these patients for diabetes, cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, the American healthcare system could save as much as $102.6 million annually.