Dentistry has a Heart

To my good fortune, I have a practicing hygienist working with me as an intern. Jessica is a full time hygienist seeking a 4 year degree and in her Capstone course work, she has decided to learn practice management. I am a mentor to her. This is my second time as a mentor.

She has been reading the material on my website, www.dentistryhasaheart.com and my email newsletters. Jessica tells me that many dentists are not conducting a full periodontal examination on their new patients and that hygienists know that there is a link from the mouth to the heart but aren’t exactly able to say what it is.

Here it is: Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women? One in two women will die from heart disease or stroke! Periodontal disease is the number one form of chronic inflammation. When the liver detects inflammation in the body, it sends out a protective C-Reactive Protein (CRP). A simple finger stick blood test can detect alarming levels of CRP which is an early indicator of heart disease. Approximately 75% of the adult population in the United States are affected by periodontal disease. One half of the people who die of a heart attack do not have high cholesterol levels.

Get your patient involved. Enable the patients to know what their CRP level. It may be life saving and preventable with periodontal therapy.  (Research gathered from resources by Dr. Neil Gottehrer, Dr. Marvin Slepian and Dr. Ron Schefdore) C-Reactive Protein finger stick blood test  kits can be ordered from Dr. Ron Schefdore’s website, www.healthyheartdentistry.com.

Implementing a heart healthy program is easy. See. www.dentistryhasaheart.com for details.

New year. New idea. Inaugural event. Dentistry has a Heart month is February 2009

Happy new year!!! Inaugural events are exciting. Things are surely cooking in Washington D.C.

Dentistry has a heart month is an exciting event. This year dentists can promote Dentistryhasaheart.com to their patients and their cardiologists. The website is initially developed to provide the dental community with products, letters and educational information about the health link between oral inflammation and heart disease.

Do you have articles that you would like posted? Please email them to jamisonconsulting@verizon.net. If you have ideas on how to present the dental/heart related marketing program, share them with us. This site is going to continue to develop over the years.

If asked what dentists want help with, I believe that it is comfort zone marketing. Educating patients is important. Health is a buzzword. Dentists and team members play a huge role in identifying health related issues such as high blood pressure. The patient may see their dentist more often than they see their doctors. Dentistry has a heart marries the best of education and marketing.