Look at the Whole, Not the Sum of the Parts

Have you ever heard the phrase, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts?” This is a fantastic Aristotle quote that is perfect for describing the way your mouth works. When you go to the dentist, you need to understand that we aren’t just looking at your teeth, and your teeth aren’t the only factors in the oral problems you might face. Your oral health is made up of many parts, but if we fail to look at those parts as a whole, we miss a huge opportunity for great oral health care.

Here at Really Smile, we take a unique approach to problems like TMJ disorder and sleep apnea. We understand that your entire life affects your oral health. Something like TMJ disorder could be a problem with your teeth, but it could also be related to the food and beverages you consume, or the amount of stress you feel at work. In order to treat these painful conditions effectively, we have to look at the whole and work from there.

A Dentist’s Job

A dentist’s job goes well beyond keeping your teeth clean. When we are looking at major problems or conditions, we are looking at the entire makeup of those problems. In order to treat something like TMJ or sleep apnea, we might ask you to change your habits, give up harmful practices, or make a repair for your teeth. Sometimes we even prescribe oral appliances that can help your mouth stay in the correct position. Whatever we recommend, it is because we have looked at all aspects of your oral health and determined what we think will be a successful solution.

Rather than looking at the parts of your health as separate entities, it is time to begin thinking about them as a whole and how they fit together. Contact us to see what that looks like for your smile! We can’t wait to help you have a happier, healthier smile.