Optima Dental Group

09/23/2026

Many of us pay monthly premiums for dental coverage, assuming it functions like our health or auto insurance. However, according to Seattle-based dentist Teresa, this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the product. She argues, "Nobody uses dental insurance, which seems like a crazy thing to say, right? Well, the truth of the matter is, dental insurance doesn't exist". Thats why we created the Optima Membership Program, allowing our patients to save up to 20% on up to $5000. So you can get the care you need without playing games with the companies!

09/22/2026

New book dropping Oct 2, to coincide with the OBI Annual Conference. This book answers the other side of the equation with what is happening in our profession. The first book was The Heart of The Matter: Dental Diagnosing in the 21st Century. This book dives into the research, points out where it is lacking, and what it actually says. You can only truly judge these papers by reading them thoroughly, not just the conclusion.

09/21/2026

No Insurance -- No Problem!

09/21/2026

Why Does Your Mouth Matter to the Rest of Your Body?

Because your gums, your bite, and your overall health are part of the same story — new research is calling for dentistry and medicine to stop treating them as separate problems.

Many offices stop at the condition: a cavity, bleeding gums, a cracked tooth. We call that problem-focused or disease-care dentistry. Dr. Michael Edwards and Optima Dental Group go further. In the diagnostic approach he first shared in his book, Heart of the Matter, he looks for causation and driving forces as well as trajectory — why it started, what’s keeping it going, and what happens if those forces stay in place. Bacteria, bite force, and changes in your whole-body health (including diabetes) can all tip the balance in your mouth.

“Disease in your gums, your bite, or your body can affect the others. A health-focused visit doesn’t just patch what hurts today — it asks what’s driving it to have targeted care plans that address todays needs as well as prevent future ones.” — Dr. Michael Edwards

Dr. Edwards also works directly with doctors and nurse practitioners to help uncover areas in the mouth that are often responsible for blood work going in the wrong direction. Instead of more meds, have a thorough oral evaluation first.

Ask your dental team: What do I have? What’s driving it? And who else on my care team needs to act? That’s how oral health stops being “just teeth” — and starts protecting you.

09/15/2026

Check out our new in house, membership plan that allows you to save up to 20% on up to $5000 worth of care. Better than insurance? We think so! Nothing is denied or held up! We support our patients get the care they want and deserve without jumping through hoops. Get healthy, Get Optima!

09/15/2026

Don't put up with the pain! If you are experiencing tooth, jaw or jaw joint pain, call for Emergency visits that get you answers and on the road to healing. Emergency visits, including any radiographs needed, photographs, and consultation are $100 for a limited time, which is then credited to whatever treatment you may need -- making the visit FREE! This is a value over 500$! Don't put up with the pain -- get the answers you want-- Call now -- don't delay! 636-583-2612

09/02/2026

Attention Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, and health care professionals --

Join me on October 19, at 6 PM in Union MO, for a short evening of learning and sharing. 6-6:20 social time, and then 6:20-7:20 a dialogue about personalized medicine from a dental perspective vs the traditional problem based care. (yes, there will be food and w**e.) We will discuss what can be visualized and diagnosed from modern imaging that is less expensive, less radiation, less intrusive, and more easily viewed than hospital scans; identifying mold, fungus and degenerative changes visible to improve your treatment plans or diagnosis, nutrition and finally AI in healthcare. I will be giving you actions and workflows you can use that week in your own practice. Today it has never been easier to deliver personalized medical approach to every patient you work with -- and I am excited to collaborate with you, learn from you, and share what modern dentistry has to offer.

limited seating, please RSVP to Optima Dental Group, 636-583-2612 or via email [email protected]. more details given at registration.

odgmo.com

08/26/2026

At Optima Dental Group, we are helping you have the information you need to stop generational health issues and have the freedom to be healthy and long lived.

Did you know the bacteria in your mouth can travel through your family? Saliva is more powerful than most people realize. Everyday moments — sharing a drink, tasting a child’s food, kissing, using the same utensils — can pass oral bacteria from one person to another. That matters because some of those bacteria are linked to:
Cavities
Gum disease
Ongoing inflammation in the mouth
And they have effects that reach beyond the mouth!

Families often share similar oral bacteria patterns. If one person has high levels of harmful bacteria, others in the household can pick them up too — especially children.The good news: this is something we can actually do something about.
Treat active gum disease and decay instead of waiting
Pay attention to dry mouth, bleeding gums, and bad breath — they’re clues, not just annoyances. Get tested at your dentist! They can treat these conditions.

A healthier mouth in one person can help protect the whole family. If you’ve been wondering why cavities or gum problems seem to “run in the family,” it may not just be genetics. It may also be what’s being shared. Questions? We’re happy to talk about it.

08/26/2026

08/18/2026

Voted time and again, one of St. Louis' Top Pediatric Dentists, Dr. James Burchett is an expert in growth and development, infant and children's dental care. Call 583-2612 today to get your child started off right with their dental care.