Generalized anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and bulimia are all psychological conditions that can affect dental care and oral health.
So what do mental health and oral health have in common, and how can we treat a patient with eating disorders, fear of the dentist, or stress?
Dr. Stefano Gracis , an internationally renowned dentist, and Dr. Feliciano Lizzardo , a psychologist and psychotherapist, talk about it in the first episode of DENTECHSTRY , the podcast on dental innovation, promoted by IDI EVOLUTION and produced by Piano P.
“ Individuals who are clearly going through a stressful period in their lives may be more likely to engage in inappropriate behaviors, with harmful consequences for their health, including their mouth and teeth, ” says Dr. Lizzardo.
Numerous scientific studies indicate stress as a risk factor for periodontal disease. But then there are patients with dental phobia , those with eating disorders , and many other correlations between mental health and oral health . These include problems with tooth decay, tooth erosion, and even oral cancer caused by poor diet, excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption, and bruxism, as well as anxiety and feelings of guilt over an unattractive smile.
" If we dentists, as a profession, want to truly care for the people who come to us, we must learn to develop the skills of fine psychologists and experts in the human psyche ," says Dr. Gracis. " The first visit is the first moment where we dentists also become psychologists. It's the moment when the threads are laid to weave the trust that should characterize the doctor-patient relationship, and it's a moment that, therefore, requires adequate time. During the first visit, I don't focus solely on dental problems but always try to observe and keep the patient in mind as a whole ."
To ensure a standard for a complete and accurate first visit, Dr. Gracis, together with a scientific committee of distinguished Italian clinicians, collaborated with IDI EVOLUTION to introduce it into the ALFRED management platform. The technology has enabled the creation, for the first time, of a true checklist that guides the clinician in collecting intra-, intra-, and extra-oral data to be observed during the first visit.
It's clear that synergy is necessary between the various professionals , so that each, with their own skills and specificities, contributes to ensuring the success of treatments and is a precursor to the patient's psychophysical and social well-being and therefore to well-being understood in a 360-degree sense, recalls Dr. Lizzardo.
In this podcast , guided by the voice of journalist Irene Privitera , doctors Stefano Gracis and Feliciano Lizzadro accompany us on a journey that allows us to reflect on why oral and dental care is closely connected to our mental well-being .
Listen to the first episode of the DENTECHSTRY podcast on Spotify , Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Enjoy listening.
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