A Special Thank You to Dr. Peter J. Pagano for writing this article for us.
“Dentistry is really engineering on a miniature scale,” says Dr. Peter J. Pagano, author of the upcoming book: Ageless Smile: What You Need to Know About Midlife Dentistry. Just a few millimeters of imbalance in the way your teeth fit together or jaw joints out of position can create discomfort, unnatural chewing function and head, neck and face pain. That’s why he recommends finding a dentist who takes a “whole body” or orthopedic approach to dentistry.
A whole-body approach is different from a holistic one. The whole body dentist takes an approach to your dental health that Dr. Pagano describes as “orthopedic.” This means that he/she understands the interrelationship between your mouth and head and the rest of your body. Over the years, he has helped hundreds of patients alleviate pain that they never considered was stemming from a dental condition.
Added to the problem of maintaining proper balance in the head, neck and jaw is the fact that sometimes cosmetic dental procedures can actually throw this delicate balance out of kilter. For example, when porcelain veneers are used to cover up crooked teeth that are a result of a bad bite, the problem can be made worse.
Dr. Pagano calls this approach to cosmetic dentistry “drive thru dentistry.” He explains that unlike bleaching, getting cosmetic dental work in a hurry is not right for many people. “A dentist’s primary role is to always maintain proper chewing function for the patient, as this has a dramatic effect on the patient’s long term health.” That’s why even immediate implants to replace missing teeth may not be right for you if you already have an existing imbalance causing pain.
Your teeth have more of an influence on your central nervous system than any other part of your body. Consider that fifty percent of the sensory input to your brain comes from your teeth, as compared with twenty percent from your hands. When your teeth and jaw come together correctly, this input is not interfered with. Also consider that each tooth is energetically connected to an internal organ and you can see just how much your dental health can affect how you feel every day.
An orthopedic approach to your dental care takes cosmetic dentistry a step further. It does more than restore your smile. It can affect your overall health. If you experience any of these symptoms immediately after dental treatment, be sure to call your doctor and get them corrected:
1. Uncomfortable chewing;
2. Teeth not coming together like they were before treatment;
3. Popping or clicking in your jaws;
4. Reduction in how wide you can open your mouth.
A simple bite adjustment will usually handle the problem.
