About
WHAT IS WELLNESS DENTISTRY?
There’s an old saying that the smile is the “window to our soul,” but what we really should be saying is that the smile is the window to the rest of the body.
Researchers have long known about the relationship between oral health and overall general health. For example, gum disease has been linked to a number of different health issues, including heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Bacteria in the mouth can travel through the system and cause infection in other parts of the body, especially if the immune system has been compromised by disease or medical treatments.
So while traditional dentistry has long focused on the care of the teeth and gums, wellness-based dentistry recognizes that oral health and general health are interlinked, and recommend integrating wellness protocols and strategies into our practices.
Wellness dentistry is the future of dentistry, and those who embrace it now will be able to offer their patients an expanded level of care through the earlier detection of broader health issues. And by looking far beyond just the teeth, you’ll create an increased awareness of conditions that have a significant impact on your patients’ health, ensuring they know you care and that they matter to you.
What is the Wellness Dentistry Network?
The Wellness Dentistry Network (WDN) was founded in 2015 by Dr. Doug Thompson on the belief that together dentists can transform the role we play in the overall health of our patients.
WDN isn’t just an organization – it’s a vital movement that offers members all the tools and resources they need to integrate wellness dentistry into their practices, while offering a platform by which other like-minded dentists and healthcare professionals can share information and best practices.
Our proven process and the support materials our members receive help patients feel more secure with the treatment recommendations you make. In turn, you become the trusted partner who shows them how to improve their overall quality of life.
WHAT WDN OFFERS MEMBERS:
Content
WDN members have access to an online content hub that provides a vast library of material demonstrating how oral health issues are integrated with overall physical health and wellness issues. The hub also contains the tools dentists need to get started, keep current, and grow their practice. Read more about the content hub.
Community
The WDN community is like no other. WDN not only connects you with like-minded dentists, but also other healthcare professionals who have a keen awareness of how oral conditions affect whole body health. WDN provides a forum for discussion and exploration for this growing movement of professionals from across the country.
Consultancy
WDN and its members are here to support you every step of the way as you grow and become the wellness dentistry practice you desire to be. You’re never alone when you have access to one-on-one coaching, special members-only conferences, and networking opportunities with other WDN members.
YOUR INVESTMENT
The initial one-time fee of $2,700 will give you one year of access to the most recent database of educational and patient management materials available. Additional materials will be throughout the year, including member-produced content.
After your first year of membership, an annual maintenance fee of $1,500 will continue your access to the content on the site.
While not required, all members are encouraged to attend one or both of Dr. Thompson’s all-day courses. These courses are given at various times and locations around the country. They are titled:
- “Integrating Periodontal Medicine to Minimize Systemic Health Risks – Dentistry for Total Body Wellness”
- “Personalized Periodontal Medicine: A New Approach to Total Body Health”
These courses focus on patient and team awareness, diagnosis, treatment and treatment protocols, maintenance protocols, and measurable in the seven key elements of the patient evaluation. After attending one or both of these courses you’ll have a greater understanding of clinical policy development and how dental conditions affect total body health.