Functional dentistry is a new and exciting way of dental health optimization. It considers the entire body, not just the teeth, to keep one healthy. Thus, the approach will turn out to be quite different from regular dentistry, with most of the time focused on solving a problem after it has taken place.
Functional dentistry tries to prevent problems before they start and keeps your whole body healthy.
What is Functional Dentistry?
Functional dentistry is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the real causes of dental problems. This is much like being a detective, searching for hints as to why you have cavities, gum diseases, or any other problems. Dentists who practice this kind of dentistry believe that what happens in the mouth may affect the body and vice versa.
Whole-Body Health Connection
Your mouth is part of your whole body and hence, it will affect your body entirely. For example, if you have gum disease, this may increase the risk of heart problems. Functional dentistry looks at these connections and can help you be significantly healthier.
Dentists may ask you about your diet, sleeping patterns, stress levels, or other health issues as a way to determine how they might also be affecting your oral health.
Preventing Issues Before They Even Occur
Some of the main goals of functional dentistry are to prevent possible dental problems even before they get into early stage. This is, in essence, preventive care.
Instead of filling a cavity, a functional dentist will try and explain why you got the cavity in the first place and may suggest changes in diet, better brushing techniques, flossing, etc.—whatever is needed in order to prevent more cavities from forming.
Natural and Safe Treatments
Functional dentistry uses natural, safe forms of treatment. For example, instead of metal fillings that may leach mercury, they would use composite fillings from safe, tooth-colored materials. The safest ways to address and prevent problems and maintain microbiome balance in oral health are sought after without harmful chemicals or procedures that might hurt your body.
Personalized Treatment
Everybody is different, and functional dentistry recognizes this fact. For a dentist to understand you and your health record, it takes time. They design a made-to-order plan befitting your needs. It doesn’t work one way, hence giving the most suitable care for your situation.
Healthy Diet and Nutrition
What you eat can have a big impact on your teeth and gums. In this area, functional dentists can be very valuable by offering diet and nutrition advice on how to keep your mouth fit and healthy. High consumption of sweetened food is related to tooth decay, whereas high intakes of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains support healthy teeth and healthy gums.
Stress and Sleep
Stress and a lack of sleep can both lead to oral health issues. Stress can lead to grinding one’s teeth, while lack of sleep makes the body more susceptible to illness, such as periodontal disease. A functional dentist will talk with their patients about stress reduction methods, as well as getting better sleep, to promote health in the mouth and the rest of the body.
A Focus on Overall Wellness
Functional dentistry does so much more than just work on teeth; it focuses on your entire wellness. From focusing on the body as a whole to keeping problems from ever happening in the first place, functional dentistry works to keep you healthy in several ways.
Advanced Technology
Functional dentists will, therefore, often use advanced technology to provide you with the most promising care. It includes less radiation and rich digital X-rays and laser treatments that are, at times, less painful and more effective than conventional procedures. Such latest tools make the work of the dentist easier to identify issues more precisely and comfortably.
Collaboration with Other Health Professionals
Functional dentists often collaborate with other health professionals, such as nutritionists, sleep specialists, and doctors, to provide complete care. Treatment by a team means that you get the best possible treatment for your oral and general health.
Why is Functional Dentistry the Future?
Functional dentistry is redefining oral health. It allows one to get down to the root cause of problems, employ safe and natural treatments, and look at the whole person in treatment, setting functional dentistry apart as a healthier future for all.
This allows for the prevention of problems before their incidence and promotes general well-being, thus making it a very important and exciting aspect of present health care.
How You Can Benefit
If you find a dentist in Crossfield who works under the approach of functional dentistry, you can see the benefits for yourself. They can help you understand exactly how your lifestyle is impacting your health and what changes can be made to improve it.
Mountain View Smiles Practices Functional Dentistry
Functional dentistry is revolutionizing oral health care in terms of prevention, safe treatments, and general wellness. This is, therefore, an intelligent way to good health and a beaming smile. Speak to our dentist near you at Mountain View Smiles about functional dentistry and how you can benefit from it.