What is a Complete Dentistry?

From the outside looking in, you may think that a dentist is a dentist.  The reality is that in the world of dentistry there are many different types of dentists with many different opinions on treatment. Complete dentistry is a completely patient health focused way of thinking about dental treatment. 

The head, neck, and mouth are unavoidably linked in many ways. The nerve supply, muscles, bones, and teeth form a complex and beautiful network that needs harmony to operate properly and avoid complications. At North Jacksonville Complete Dentistry, we understand that the teeth cannot be separated from the rest of the system. Our new patient and periodic exams, discussions, and treatment considerations all take into account the fact that we are responsible for the health of the entire chewing system. 

So how does this work in practice?  We have many patients, for example, that come in with teeth that are extremely worn.  In this case, many dentists would patch the teeth, place crowns, or some variation of treatment.  We feel that it is important to determine the cause of the tooth wear.  Often, this results from a problem with the bite, a nighttime teeth grinding habit, or another variable.  If we look at the entire system comprehensively, most often we can find the root of the problem and fix it rather than patching the teeth, which often leads to future spending and dental visits.  We find that this type of treatment often saves patients significant amounts of money and time in the long run. 

Surveys and studies have shown that an excessive percentage of the population has head and neck pain.  This can include headaches, tooth pain, jaw pain, and sinus pain.  Much of this goes undiagnosed for a lifetime.  We take pride in many cases in having the ability to find the root cause of these problems and saving a patient a lifetime worth of pain.  This would never happen if we simply looked at the teeth. 

If you are in need of a dental visit, we encourage you to contact us at any time.  We would love to have the opportunity to completely change your perspective on oral healthcare!