There’s a growing number of dentists who have found themselves in the ever-evolving field of neuroscience. Neuroscience is the study of how the nervous system develops, its structure and function. They focus on the brain, its impact on behavior and its cognitive functions. Over the years, studies in dentistry have proven just how important oral health acts as the “gateway” to the rest of your body. Tooth or gum infections, if allowed to spread, can be the cause of other much more serious illnesses, including heart disease. It has also been proven that sleep apnea can have serious, life-threatening consequences. Through neuroscience, today’s dentists are starting to offer programs for sleep, weight loss, smoking cessation, stress reduction and pain reduction.
Many dentists are now offering treatment for sleep apnea, a disorder that causes breathing to frequently stop and start and that has been associated with significant health risks, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. In the effort to understand, diagnose, and treat this disorder, dentists have quickly educated themselves to become members of the community of medical professionals who aim to alleviate the suffering caused by sleep apnea.
The results of these studies have helped doctors determine how to help their patients health with relaxation, stress reduction, restorative sleep and lifestyle improvements. There are countless cases of patients with breathing issues due to airways being blocked in their sleep, as well as those with chronic headaches and teeth grinding.
Thanks to these new advances in neuroscience, dentists are able to explore other areas that can help their patients with weight loss, quitting smoking, stress management, chronic pain and much more. Talk to your dentist today about all the ways they can help you!
