Why Your Mouth Isn’t Separate from Your Body
(And why the “medical vs dental” divide can harm your health)
Hello, I’m Dr. Shepard DeLong, holistic and biological dentist at Lotus Dental Wellness in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I want to talk with you about something that affects every patient but rarely gets discussed: the medical-dental divide and how this separation between your dentist and doctor can have lasting effects on your health.
What Is the Medical-Dental Divide?
The medical-dental divide refers to the long-standing separation between medicine and dentistry in education, insurance, and patient care.
Most medical doctors receive little to no training on oral health, even though the mouth is the gateway to the body.
Dental care and medical care are often covered by two different insurance systems, creating confusion and gaps in preventive treatment.
As a result, patients are often treated as if their mouth exists apart from the rest of their body when in fact, your oral health mirrors and influences your entire systemic health.
At Lotus Dental Wellness, we believe it’s time to erase that divide. As a biological dental practice, we treat your oral health as part of your total body wellness.
Why the Medical-Dental Divide Is Harmful
1. Chronic Inflammation and Gum Disease Affect the Whole Body
Untreated gum disease (periodontitis) is not just a dental issue, it’s a chronic inflammatory condition. Bacteria and inflammatory byproducts from infected gums can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk for:
Heart disease and stroke
Diabetes and insulin resistance
Autoimmune disorders
Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease
Pregnancy complications
Ignoring oral health allows systemic inflammation to thrive, yet most medical offices never evaluate your gums or jaw health. That’s the danger of the medical-dental divide.
2. Missed Early Warning Signs in the Mouth
Your mouth often shows the first visible signs of systemic disease. Oral lesions, gum recession, dry mouth, or bone loss can reveal diabetes, autoimmune disease, or early cancer. But if your medical provider isn’t looking in your mouth and your dentist isn’t communicating with your physician these signs are too easily missed.
At Lotus Dental Wellness, we screen for these early warning signs at every visit and collaborate with your healthcare team when needed.
3. Insurance Barriers and Fragmented Care
Because medical insurance and dental insurance are separate systems, many patients skip preventive dental visits or delay treatment. That can lead to:
Emergency room visits for preventable infections
Advanced tooth decay or jawbone loss
Systemic infections from untreated abscesses
Higher long-term medical costs
The insurance separation reinforces the idea that the mouth isn’t part of the body but we know it is. That’s why we help patients understand coverage, advocate for necessary care, and focus on whole-body prevention, not just symptom repair.
Whole-Body Dentistry: Bridging the Divide
At Lotus Dental Wellness, we practice holistic, biological, and integrative dentistry, meaning we bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry using science, compassion, and advanced technology.
We integrate your oral and overall health through:
Biocompatible ceramic dental implants (metal-free and inflammation-resistant)
CBCT 3D imaging for airway and bone health
PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) to accelerate natural healing
Ozone therapy for disinfection without toxins
Sedation options for stress-free care
Safe mercury amalgam removal following SMART protocols
Yomi robotic-assisted implant placement for precision and minimal recovery time
Each of these technologies supports your whole-body wellness because oral health cannot be separated from immune, cardiovascular, or endocrine function.
Practical Steps for Patients
Here’s how you can protect yourself from the consequences of the medical-dental divide:
Keep your dental visits consistent — prevention saves your teeth and supports heart and immune health.
Share your full medical history with your dentist — including medications and diagnoses.
Ask your doctor to communicate with your dentist about your oral health.
Address gum inflammation early — it’s often a sign of systemic inflammation.
Choose a biological dentist who understands the mouth-body connection.
How Lotus Dental Wellness Helps Close the Gap
At Lotus Dental Wellness, our mission is to restore balance between your oral and overall health.
We believe the future of healthcare lies in collaboration where your dentist, physician, and other providers work together to optimize your well-being.
Dr. DeLong and Dr. Jeeyoung Han lead our team with an integrative approach that considers every aspect of your biology, from oral microbiome health to bone metabolism and immune response.
Our patients frequently tell us their experience feels different more comprehensive, transparent, and empowering. We see that as a reflection of our guiding philosophy: Your mouth is not separate from your body, it’s the mirror of your wellness.
In Closing
The medical-dental divide has persisted for over a century, but at Lotus Dental Wellness, we’re helping change that narrative.
By choosing biological dentistry, you’re choosing a path toward long-term oral and whole-body health, fewer chronic issues, faster healing, and care that truly sees you as a whole person.
Your body deserves that kind of care, and so does your smile.