Hans Lennros wrote in message ...
>What is really a systemic illness. Is that a disease that hits all systems
>in the body or ' just ' a local condition with systemic (general) symptoms?
>Or even one, or a few, distant symptoms? What is it really?
I think dentists here are pretty well versed in general medicine and
understand the relationship of the oral conditions to the rest of the body.
This, however, makes no difference when it comes to the "practice of
medicine" according to the statutes of the different states of our nation.
Our licenses limit the range of ailments we can legally diagnose and treat.
Going beyond those boundaries is risky and can result in fines,
imprisonment, loss of licensure and lawsuits.
Let's take an example. There is credible evidence of a relationship between
periodontitis in males and heart disease. As a dentist, I can diagnose and
treat periodontitis. I can make no claim that I am treating the patient's
heart condition, even if the therapy is helpful to the patient.
Yes, boundaries blur, but
