Business Spotlight: Dr. Alicia Kennedy, DDS, offers advice for maintaining optimum health with regular dental check-ups
• BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:
Dr. Alicia Kennedy, a long-time fixture in the La Jolla dental community, continues to emphasize the direct relationship between positive dental health and overall physical well-being. She cautions that there is an entire body connected to your teeth and, with that in mind, it is vital to maintain a regular schedule of dental check-ups. She also suggests that a primary focus of modern dentistry is concerned with whole body health and not merely with the treatment of cavities.
Dr. Kennedy graduated from the University of Warsaw School of Dentistry, the UCLA School of Dentistry, and has had many years of experience with the prestigious Seattle institute for Advanced Dental Education. With all this training, she has professional insight on the consequences and effects of dental treatment on the entire body.
When a new patient visits Dr. Kennedy, she and her educated staff will take the time to listen carefully to your concerns, answer any questions, and understand your needs.
You (the patient) will then receive a thorough evaluation of your oral health, after which, Dr. Kennedy will discuss how your oral health is affecting your whole body and vice-versa.
Dr. Kennedy is a strong believer in using natural methods to treat patients. She uses only gold (a composite of gold and high quality precious metals in her fillings) and takes a similar approach with her crowns. In doing so, she alleviates concerns about allergies or gum inflammation.
Dr. Kennedy also insists that healthy gums are vital to optimum health. She notes that gum disease has been linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other adverse medical conditions. She suggests that risk factors such as smoking, previous illnesses, hormonal changes and certain medical conditions can contribute to the problem.
She also cautions that the longer plaque and tartar are on the teeth, the more harmful they become. This causes gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease that can best be removed with regular cleaning by a dental hygienist.
Most of all, Dr. Kennedy believes strongly that regular dental check-ups are extremely important for maintaining excellent well-being and vitality. Once again, she emphasizes the direct relationship between good dental health and a sound, well-functioning physical body.
• Dr. Alicia K. Kennedy, DDS, can be reached at (858) 454-6148 or visit aliciakennedydds.com
She is located at 7334 Girard Ave., Suite 101, in La Jolla. Her office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
The Business Spotlight features commercial enterprises that support the La Jolla Light.