
Comprehensive Dentistry for Whole-Body Health

Dental Care Isn’t Just About Teeth
Your teeth, just like other parts of your body, do not function in isolation. Teeth rely on the support and health of the gums and bone to remain healthy. Similarly, decay and damage to the teeth can have negative consequences for the rest of the mouth and body.
Research has shown a link between chronic oral conditions such as gum disease and complications with systemic health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. Our dentists, Dr. Aubree Capen and Dr. Mark Connelly, consider all of these issues as part of our comprehensive general dentistry services. By looking at your mouth as being inherently linked to the health of your entire body, we are better able to diagnose and treat oral health concerns and, therefore, improve the overall health and quality of life of our patients.

Comprehensive Care for Long-Term Health
When looking at the health of your mouth, our dental care team begins with the foundational structure, inspecting the gum tissue and bone for signs of disease. Where bacteria are present in the mouth, vital structures can be irreversibly damaged without treatment, and the bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and throughout the body.
Next, examining the teeth allows us to see decay on and below the tooth surface and check for irregularities in the way the teeth fit together. Malocclusion can have a profound effect on the health and function of the TM joints (Temporomandibular joints) and can be related to chronic headaches, head and neck pain, and jaw stiffness and pain.
Comprehensive evaluation of the mouth means comprehensive diagnosis and accurate treatment of all oral conditions found. To provide this standard of dental care for our St. Johns Dental Care patients, Dr. Capen and Dr. Connelly are trained in the full scope of general dentistry services and the prevention of dental disease.