Physicians and Dentists Unite!
On February 25th and 26th, 2011 history was made, “bridging the gap between both sides of healthcare”. A ground-breaking group of Physicians and Dentists participated together in a Bale/Doneen Method Preceptorship Course in Heart Attack, Stroke, and Diabetes Prevention. Dental members of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) joined forces with world class Cardiologists, Endocrinologists and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Specialists, for the sole purpose of saving lives.
The goal of the Preceptorship was to train medical providers of all specialties, thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. It was noted throughout the meeting that an integral part of this prevention model is oral health. The emerging science finds the current standard-of-care no longer acceptable, meaning that both physicians and dentists must strive for optimal care and higher degrees of collaborative co-management and inter-disciplinary healthcare.
Currently, Americans are experiencing over 1.2 million heart attacks and approximately 795,000 stroke each year. Vascular inflammation is a key part of these events, and oral inflammation is an integral risk factor for systemic inflammation. The Bale/Doneen Method objective is to improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%, while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%.
By the end of day one, the participants had an extensive understanding of cardiovascular disease. Participants were educated on the red flags for heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes. Next, they discussed the major risk factors, what actually causes an event, and the various testing formats to assess the presence of disease. Inflammation was determined to be the major trigger for an event, and they discussed the ground-breaking research and the new tests now available in this area, including genetic testing.
On day two, the participants were shown the latest treatment protocols and clinical applications for CVD. In addition, the oral systemic link was discussed extensively. Periodontal disease (PD) was shown to have a large impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerotic inflammation, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease in men, and type II diabetes.
The evidence also supported the fact that PD is associated with the development of vascular disease in general. It’s very important to note that PD is associated with the elevation of various CV risk biomarkers used in the new tests.
Dr. Tom Nabors discussed the importance of the Oral Systemic Health, including the important connection between oral inflammation and systemic inflammation. Also discussed were the various salivary diagnostic tests currently offered by OralDNA Labs. The physicians in the group were especially excited and interested in the ability to quantify and communicate a patient’s level of oral inflammation. Genetic testing for PD was also shown to be very helpful in the patients overall care. Also discussed was the importance of testing patients for HPV.
The overall take-away was the utmost importance of a preventive approach for the treatment of CVD, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and various other inflammatory diseases, specifically by using the Bale/Doneen Method. And finally, a better grasp of the importance of oral inflammation as a key risk factor and influence on vascular inflammation, and all inflammatory diseases. Thus, improving and saving lives.