Sponsored by Eccella, Dr. W. Scott Wagner, DMD, LVIF
Dentistry is one of the last strongholds in healthcare where a doctor-patient relationship can still exist. So what should you expect from your dentist in 2016? In particular, I believe that dentists have a responsibility to do more than we have done in the past. Information is everywhere, and our knowledge base is vastly expanding when it comes to identifying major medical issues before they require a doctor visit—and certainly long before they’ve created a permanent, life-changing problem.
A new patient exam now requires more than filling out a basic medical and dental history form. We are not just charting teeth, looking for cavities, and probing the gums. Instead, we want to discuss your goals and answer sleep questions. We need digital x-rays, a digital cone beam 3D CT scan, digital photo series (face, smile, profile, head/neck posture, airway, and intra-oral pictures of the teeth), oral cancer screening, skin evaluation for sun damage/acne/cancerous lesions, review of diet, and a blood pressure reading. What about headaches, migraines, and TMJ issues? Vertigo? Numbness in the fingertips? Do you clench and grind? Do you have acid reflux? Are you a mouth breather? Do you snore? Are your teeth crowded? Are you missing teeth? How do these problems relate to your overall health?
These basic components should all be part of a comprehensive exam. Understanding how they relate to a patient’s general health can allow a dentist to uncover all kinds of underlying conditions. But are you ready to have your dentist ask you about these things? Almost every day I have a patient say, “I just wanted a cleaning. Can I get that done?” Do you really want to know about your health and learn how to make real changes? I have to challenge preconceived ideas every day and change the expectation of what a dental office should be. My suggestion: play along, because it might just save your life.
Modern dental offices also need to make a firm commitment to keeping up with the available technology. CEREC, a CAD/CAM machine, allows dentists to make more conservative crowns and onlays/ inlays in just one visit: no more goop-filled impressions, no more gagging, no more temporary crowns that fall off one hour after you leave the office! Lasers, which are now used to work on gums, bone, and teeth, are changing and improving every year. EVERYTHING—not just digital x-rays—is digital, including impressions, photos, and even a Cone Beam 3D CT scan. I have a saying: “If you can’t see it, you can’t diagnose it. If you can’t diagnose it, you can’t treat it.” So having up-to-date technology is key.
When it comes to gum disease, let’s get the whole idea of just needing a regular cleaning out of the way. If everyone needed “just a regular cleaning,” then why is gum disease the #1 cause of tooth loss in America? Someone with bleeding gums, recession, heavy plaque build-up, and under-the-gum calculus needs immediate help. As for cavities, almost all of us have some type of decay in our mouths, and a pro-active dentist is inclined to treat the decay when it’s still small. Lastly, the way teeth come together can be dysfunctional. Fractures, cracks, wear spots, and notches at your gum line are all signs of bite problems. Identifying a solution (braces, Invisalign, etc.) to correct your alignment is key to long term health.
If you have questions or want to pursue a different kind of dental experience, feel free to give our team a call at 904-834-3737 or visit us online at www.eccellasmiles.com.
About the Author
A native Floridian, Dr. Scott Wagner grew up in Gainesville and attended Wake Forest and Florida State Universities and his doctorate of dental medicine from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. His passion for the ever-changing field of dentistry motivates him to take over 100 hours of continued education each year. He has studied with some of the world’s leading cosmetic and restorative dentists at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and is an LVI Clinical Instructor. In 2010, he moved to a new location and built a facility that was reflective of all the training, experience and built a facility that was reflective of all the training, experience, and goals that had been set.
