IV sedation, dental health, trauma and oral health care often go hand in hand. It can also keep us from going to the dentist and lead to serious heath issues.
In the last decade, there has been significant research showing the connection between oral health and your overall well being. For instance, health issues such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes, have all been linked to gum disease.
Other research has shown compelling evidence that links oral health issues to osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and premature births.
Oral Health and Overall Health
“The connection between oral health and overall health and well-being cannot be ignored,” according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Oral health is much more than just healthy teeth; it also includes the health of many other anatomical structures such as the gums, bones, ligaments, muscles, glands, and nerves. In addition, oral health affects some of our most basic human functions, thereby shaping an individual’s self-image and sense of well-being.”
Journal of Dental Hygiene
Traumatic experiences can impact individuals’ oral health and how they experience dental treatment in ways patients and their dental providers may or may not initially anticipate.
As approximately half of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States have experienced some type of traumatic event, it is critically important for providers to be aware of patients’ trauma histories and to appropriately provide trauma-informed care to their patients when needed.
Individuals with a trauma history may experience significant anxiety and distress in the dental setting, even for treatment many providers and patients consider to be “simple,” such as a brief intraoral examination, radiographs, or prophylaxis.
Such aspects of the dental setting may trigger memories and emotions related to the original trauma and may re-traumatize patients. This short report introduces links between traumatic history, poor oral health, and dental care-related fear and anxiety.
Traumatic experiences can impact a person’s oral health, even if the trauma does not occur in the dental setting or does not involve a person’s oral cavity.
Children and adolescents with a trauma history are more likely to have dental caries, gingival bleeding, and self-reported fair or poor oral health compared with those without a trauma history.
Adults who have experienced trauma have less frequent dental cleanings and fewer dental visits overall compared to adults who have not experienced trauma.
