Your dentist doesn't take a full medical history before examining you.

Your dentist doesn't take a full medical history before examining you.


One of the first things we do with our patients, before assessing their dental problems, is take a full medical history. We need to know what’s going on with the patient in terms of his or her entire body,” says Jeffrey Gross, DDS, who practices at The Healthy Smile in Ohio. Certain medications or conditions may affect the way your teeth react to treatment, so it’s essential for your dentist to know what’s going on with your body. For example, bacteria from the mouth can affect the heart of someone who suffers from heart disease, pregnancy may cause gum disease, and bleeding gums and arthritis can make it difficult for patients to maintain a clean mouth. It’s also essential for you to keep up with your own medical care—for example, people with untreated diabetes may have delayed healing of the gums, which can make performing root canals difficult. “If we don’t know what the underlying problems are, we will just be spinning our wheels and performing unsuccessful treatments.”