DEARBORN — Contemporary Dentistry, located on Schaefer Rd. in Dearborn has been persistent on linking oral health to the overall health of the human body, hoping to spread awareness on preventive healthcare with new data that the average person might not be aware of.

Dr. Rima Bazzi from Contemporary Dentistry and a few other hygienists from Michigan and around the country just recently returned from a two day seminar in Washington D.C. that focused on linking dental hygiene to overall health. Some startling facts that dentists would like to raise awareness on include:

*Gum disease can increase pancreatic and kidney cancer by over 62%.

* Gum disease can also increase the risk of head & neck cancer.

*Diabetes & bleeding gums increases the risk of premature death by 400-700%.

*93% of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes.

*Tooth loss & gum disease increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

*People with gum disease are twice as likely to die from heart disease & three times as likely to die from a stroke. 

*Bacteria in the mouth can cause heart disease, high blood pressure & stroke.

Dr. Bazzi says it’s been difficult to relay the message on the importance of oral healthcare in relation to overall health. All patients who come to the office for an oral check up get tested for hypertension, which tracks blood pressure. Dr. Bazzi says there have been a few instances where patients have come in for an oral check up and their blood pressure was alarming. 

“Sometimes if their blood pressure is really high, we don’t even see them. It has happened a few times where we had to refer them to a local physician. They can have a stroke and not even realize it. High blood pressure is a serious killer,” Dr. Bazzi stated. 

There seems to be a great amount of misinformation regarding oral health as well. Many locals have not been understanding the importance of a clean mouth. For example, plaque build up in the mouth can lead to bacteria in the arteries, which contribute to heart attacks and heart disease. Dentists continue to tell their patients that it’s important that they get oral check ups at least twice a year. In Dearborn, the message might be harder to convey. Contemporary Dentistry, along with other local doctor and dental offices have bilingual assistance as well as informational packets translated in Arabic. 

“Lack of education is the biggest problem. People are always more concerned about other things. They don’t understand the relationship with their mouth to the rest of their body. They think health starts from the neck down,”  stated Amanda Beidoun, a Hygienist, who also attended the convention in Washington D.C. 

Contemporary Dentistry has found unique ways to reach out to the community. Earlier this year they held an all day event that targeted locals with no insurance to come out and get free teeth cleanings and fillings. Blood sugar levels were also tested during the day. The office says they want to hold these events annually as a way to give back. Many other dental offices have followed suit and ran similar give back days.  

Additionally, Contemporary Dentistry is in the early stages of working in a collaborative effort with local physicians and hospitals to help a handful of individuals who are in need of both dental and physician assistance. Together as a group, the doctors will be working hand in hand to improve the overall health of these individuals, some of whom already suffer with health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. 

“We are advocates for the overall health of the patient. We want to do everything we can to get them healthy first and foremost.  Hopefully this can motivate people to start seeing their doctors and dentists more often. We are doing anything we can to open our doors for people, starting with a simple conversation about their overall health,” Dr. Rima Bazzi stated.