PDS-supported dentists are committed to educating patients about the link between oral health and whole-body health
IRVINE, CALIF. March 19, 2021 – Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), a leading dental support organization that provides business and administrative support services for dental practices, recognizes World Oral Health Day, the largest global awareness campaign on oral health. Organized by the FDI World Dental Federation, the goal of World Oral Health Day is to educate children and adults alike about the impact oral health has on overall health. This year’s theme, "Be proud of your mouth,” aims to bring awareness to how good oral health can lead to a longer, healthier, and happier life.
The dentists supported by PDS are committed to bringing awareness to their patients about the link between oral health and whole-body health - what PDS and its supported practices call the Mouth-Body Connection®. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, oral cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.
“Pacific Dental Services is proud to support World Oral Health Day and raise awareness about the role oral health plays in whole-body health,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, CEO and Founder of Pacific Dental Services. “Our primary purpose is to support clinicians and their individual dental practices, so they can continue to create Healthier, Happier Patients®. With recent studies showing a link between poor oral hygiene with an increased risk of COVID-19 complications, the work PDS-supported dentists do to educate patients about the importance of practicing proper oral hygiene as a way of maintaining optimal whole-body health has never been more important.”
Since its inception in 1994, PDS-supported practices have been committed to clinical excellence and providing the Perfect Patient Experience® through modern dentistry with advanced, proven technology. These clinical treatment tools are at the forefront of oral and whole-body health care and include CEREC® CAD/CAM same-day crowns, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital X-rays, soft tissue diode lasers, salivary diagnostics, and the VELscope® oral screening system to help detect oral cancers. PDS patients are also offered integrated dental specialties oftentimes conveniently located under one roof, such as endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, dental hygiene, and pediatric dentistry.
At the heart of PDS is its foundational culture of service that focuses on increasing access to oral healthcare. “Service is at the core of who we are as an organization. Participating in the act of service changes our hearts and minds about what matters most in life,” said Mr. Thorne. Over the years, in partnership with the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to providing oral health care to those in need, PDS-supported clinicians have provided more than $74 million in donated dentistry to underserved patients.