According to the American Dental Association, it’s been shown that oral infections, such as periodontal disease, are linked to serious health issues like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and oral cancer. This is known as the oral-systemic link, which recognizes how conditions in the mouth can affect the rest of the body and vice versa. 

Understanding this relationship is crucial for our supported dentists. By recognizing the oral-systemic link, they can provide more comprehensive care, promote preventive measures, and collaborate with other healthcare providers to improve patient well-being. At Mortenson Dental Partners (MDP), we provide our teams with plenty of resources and initiatives to further deepen their understanding: 

• Day of Learning: Throughout the year in all our regions, MDP regional leaders host a Day of Learning. These days are opportunities for practice teams to learn more about important topics in dentistry that can help them better care for their patients. Our most recent session was on the oral-systemic link, allowing our team members to gain a deeper understanding of how the health of your teeth and gums can impact your overall body’s health. 
• Clinician Guide: This guide, developed by our Clinical Committee, helps clinicians explain dental health issues, systemic connections, and treatment options to patients, thereby supporting patient education and informed decision-making about oral and systemic care.
• Oral-Systemic Link Learning Modules: Through our learning management system, MDP University, MDP has begun offering learning courses about the oral-systemic link. The introductory module, titled The Mouth Matters: Introduction to the Oral-Systemic Link, helps provide all team members with an overview of the oral-systemic link. Throughout the next year, we will implement more courses relating to this relationship to help expand our supported clinicians’ knowledge of this connection, so they can share this information with their patients. 
• “Healthy Smile, Healthier You” Campaign: Starting in 2023 and continuing into 2025, we have implemented our patient-facing “Healthy Smile, Healthier You” campaign to promote the connection between oral health and overall health. With this campaign, our goal has been to educate patients on why it’s so important for them to see their dentist regularly in order to prevent gum disease, which can lead to things like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and oral cancer. 

Putting more emphasis on the connection between oral health and overall health can help promote early detection and prevention of chronic diseases, while enabling us to deliver more comprehensive care to our patients. At MDP, we believe that this initiative will not only have a positive impact on our patients but our team members and community, too.