Wellness
Meet Sama, a one-stop wellness center that addresses your oral microbiome and more.
Im not alone in my avoid-the-dentist tendencies.
Skip your annual visit, however, and youre more likely to wind up with issues like mine.
Moral of the story: going to the dentist sucks.
(Generally speaking.)
Our philosophy is your bodys not balanced unless your mouth is, she tells me during my visit.
The mouth is the gateway to the body.
After all, youroral health is so influential in your overall wellness.
Most people know all about the importance of thegut microbiome, but not the one lurking beyond your lips.
Theoral microbiome leads to the gut theyre very connected, says Randhawa.
Patients might be surprised to know that Sama will also offer Botox and fillers.
We offer facial aesthetics as well, which are important for confidence and overall wellness.
Its nice to feel good, says Randhawa.
Needless to say, I was hopeful about a more pleasant dentist experience.
The chair has a massage function.
The screen in front of me slowly showcased different paintings.
Perhaps thats why theres been a rise in less sterile, more cute treatment spots.
The vibes come with a purpose.
They also come at a cost.
Sama is membership-based, but it does process all major PPO dental insurance plans.
This isnt to say that it was a breeze.
Two weeks later, I received even more intel by way of my oral microbiome results.
I wouldnt lose sleep over these scores, Randhawa assures me over the phone.
Its normal to have good and bad bacteria in the mouth.
It just helps us think of ways to improve if theres an imbalance.
The results are comprehensive, and theyre not all doom and gloom.
Despite my mouth clearly needing some work, I do feel confident with my newfound knowledge.
And, dare I say, really motivated to up my brushing and flossing game.
Thats exactly Samas point.
Who wants to sit at the dentists office and be drilled and have someone tell you scary things?
Theres a movement in medicine for value-based care, and we want to do that in oral health.
Institute of Medicine (US) Board on Health Care Services.
Oral Health Workforce in the Coming Decade: Workshop Summary.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009.
2, The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health and Well-Being.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219661/
Park, SY.
Oral-Gut Microbiome Axis in Gastrointestinal Disease and Cancer.
Cancers (Basel).
2021 Apr 28;13(9):2124. doi: 10.3390/cancers13092124.
PMID: 33924899; PMCID: PMC8125773.
