Periodontal Disease
Aug 31st, 2010 by admin
Approximately 75% of Americans have some form of periodontal infection. This makes it the most common chronic bacterial infection in adults. It is not only important to address periodontal disease for the health of your teeth and gums, these periodontal causing bacteria can enter into the bloodstream and cause serious health problems. Research has shown, and experts agree, that there is an association between periodontal diseases and other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pre-term births, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, treating inflammation may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions. The signs and symptoms of many potentially life-threatening diseases appear in the mouth first.
The 2000 Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, has called attention to this connection between oral health and systemic health and states that, if left untreated, poor oral health is a “silent X-factor promoting the onset of life-threatening diseases which are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans each year.”
Recent case-control and cross-sectional studies indicate that periodontitis may confer a 7-fold increase in risk for preterm low birth weight infants and a 2-fold increase in risk for cardiovascular disease. The primary association between heart disease and strokes and periodontal disease appears to be the relationship between inflammation (infection) and the production of C-reactive protein. Any inflammation in the body (ie periodontal disease) produces C-reactive protein. In studies at Harvard University, C-reactive protein has had a stronger relationship between heart attacks and strokes than high cholesterol levels. Patients with periodontitis have significantly higher levels of inflammatory products which are well known risk factors for acute heart attacks. Dental bacterial components affect the body’s response to infection and can play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Approximately 95 percent of Americans who have diabetes also have periodontal disease and research shows that people with periodontal disease have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar level. Severe periodontal disease also can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth measuring 5 mm or more. After a physician has made a conclusive diagnosis, it is critical that patients with diabetes receive professional oral health care regularly and follow a customized home-care routine to help keep their blood sugar levels in check.
We can perform a risk assessment to determine your susceptibility to this disease. Risk factors for periodontal disease include genetics, tobacco use, alcohol, medications, systemic diseases, clenching or grinding of teeth, stress, and several others. As we continue to learn more about the severity of periodontal infections and how closely linked they are to your overall health, having detailed information about your genetic susceptibility (MyPerioID® PST®) and the bacteria that are present in our mouth (MyPerioPath®) will be critical in determining your oral and overall general health. There are several tests we can perform to detect and measure the bacteria in your mouth, genetic testing to determine your susceptibility to inflammatory diseases, and Oral HPV.
These new, quick, and non-invasive tests deliver information that will enable your dental professional to better determine the appropriate treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Our goal is to drive early detection and more predictable treatment outcomes in the clinical setting.
It is appropriate for medical and dental colleagues to work together and share knowledge so that the appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be provided to patients. Ultimately, improving oral health might not only improve quality of life from a dental standpoint but might reduce the risk of systemic disease as well.
