What do health problems like sleep apnea, diabetes, stroke, and oral cancer have in common? Would you be surprised to learn that they're all likely to be discovered first by your dentist?When most of us think of the dentist, it's in terms of getting that regular cleaning and exam. For some, it's a visit we put off or avoid all together, because of bad past experiences or common phobias. But your dentist is an important member of your healthcare team, not just a glorified tooth polisher. Your mouth is the window to your whole body's health, and your dentist is on the front lines of preventative care in keeping all of you running smoothly.

In this comprehensive guide to oral care, written by a dentist for the layperson, you'll learn:
• The latest advances in oral care and cosmetic dentistry that can give you the smile of your dreams far more easily than ever before.
• Why baby teeth matter, and how proper care now can save you and your child years of expensive treatments later.
• The healthcare crisis of sleep apnea; not just among the middle-aged and overweight, but even among children, and what your dentist can do to give you back a good night's sleep.
• How poor oral care puts your whole body at risk.
• New directions in holistic dentistry that mean less pain AND less medication.
• The controversy over silver fillings; what are the options, and what should you choose?
• Evidence-based dentistry and what it means to you as an informed consumer.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION YOUR MOUTH IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH • Multi-organ eff ects of periodontal disease • Oral cancers • Smoking, dipping, drug addiction, and eating disorders A HEALTHY BITE FOR A HEALTHY BODY: THE NEUROMUSCULAR APPROACH • Perils of piecemeal dentistry • The tooth team: Th e craniomandibular complex • The traumatic bite and its eff ects • Malocclusion and its causes in children • Effects of malocclusion in adults • Migraines: How do dentists treat them? • Treatment modalities for pain arising from TMD • Appliance therapy versus store-bought bite splints • Bite registration • Removable versus fi xed orthotic appliances • Types of TMD patients • Clicking and popping joints: To treat or not to treat SLEEP APNEA • Sleep apnea in children • Snoring and sleep apnea • What is sleep apnea? • The role of a dentist in screening for sleep apnea • Treatment options • Advantages of oral appliances • Limitations of oral appliances • Good candidates for oral appliances • Hormonal changes with sleep apnea PATIENT FAQs: • Why can’t I just get a regular cleaning along with my exam? • Aside from what you see, how do you diagnose the health of my gums? • Depending on what you fi nd, what are the diff erent types of cleaning you might use? • What is tooth decay? • What do you mean by “minimally invasive,” and what is minimally invasive technology? • Why treat baby teeth? Th ey are just going to fall out anyway. • What can parents do to prevent tooth decay? • My dentist says I need to take out my wisdom teeth, but they’re not bothering me; do I really need to have them removed? • What are the risks associated with removing wisdom teeth? • Do I need to fl oss my teeth if I brush two times a day and after every meal? • What kind of a toothbrush should I get? Do I really need to get an expensive electric toothbrush or is a manual toothbrush okay? • How often should toothbrushes be changed? • Are mouthwashes necessary or eff ective? • Why is my dentist recommending a crown instead of a filling? • Why is my dentist saying I need a root canal? I already have a fi lling (or crown). • Signs of needing a root canal NUTRITION AND DENTISTRY • Nursing-bottle caries • Eff ect of diet on tooth decay • What is nutritional defi ciency? • Types of nutritional defi ciency • Eff ects of nutritional defi ciency in the mouth • Nutritional counseling for the dental patient • What is oxidative stress? • Th e role of antioxidants in reducing oxidative stress AESTHETICS AND DENTISTRY • Veneers, crowns, and bondings • Implants versus fi xed bridges • Snap-On Smile™ • Gum grafts • Techniques involving removal of tooth structures and gums • Straightening teeth by orthodontics • Clear aligners versus conventional braces • Teeth whitening • Bleaching versus whitening • Why do teeth need bleaching and whitening? • Types of teeth whitening • Safety issues with teeth whitening • The controversy of silver fillings • Why are composite fi llings more expensive than silver fillings? ALTERNATIVE IDEAS TO DENTISTRY • Acupuncture and acupressure • Homeopathy in dentistry • Herbal remedies in dentistry THE TRUE MEANING OF HOLISTIC DENTISTRY