The Link Between Gum Disease and Heart Attacks

Gum Disease May Relate To Heart Attack Risk

Previous studies have found that the incidence of heart disease is about twice as high in people with periodontal (gum) disease, but until recently no plausible cause had been suggested.  Now studies indicate that the most common strain of bacteria in dental plaque may cause blood clots.  When blood clots escape into the bloodstream, there is a relation to increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.

People with periodontal disease (over half the adult population) have an infection  that causes chronic inflammation of the gums.  Also, it is a path for these bacteria to enter the bloodstream.  A recent study describes the association between heart disease and gum disease to be at least as strong as the linkage of heart disease to cholesterol, body weight, or smoking.

Incidence of Periodontal Disease

Unlike most diseases that give us early warning signs, gum disease progresses silently, ofter without pain.  It may develop slowly or progress quite rapidly.  More that half of all people over 18 years of age have at least the early stages of periodontal disease.  Even more alarming, after the age of 35, three out of four people are affected to some degree.  Periodontal disease is an infection that destroys the gum surrounding your teeth and also destroys the supporting bone that holds your teeth in place.

Periodontal disease may increase  your risk for a variety of health concerns including:  weakened immune system, diabetes, stroke, lung disease, preterm, low-birth-weight babies, kidney disease, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, gastric ulcer, and prosthetic joint complications.  Evidence is mounting relating gum disease to a variety of health concerns, some that are life threatening.  By keeping regular re-care appointments with your dental team, you help increase your chances for a long and happy life.

Determining Periodontal Disease

We can help you better understand periodontal disease and how you can prevent it.  We will painlessly check and monitor the condition of your gums during your re-care appointments.  Your examinations may show signs of infection, such as bleeding or pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that are deeper than normal.  Dr. Dulski may suggest a course of treatment that will stop any further damage to your gums and bones.  We will then design a home-care regimen for your specific needs!  Even healthy looking teeth may have gum disease.  Visit Adult Dentistry of Rochester for a simple exam to learn the health status of your gums.

Tags: Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease, Heart Attack, Stroke

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

You may have a very common problem in one of your back teeth - a cracked tooth.  Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice, or by biting on an unexpected hard object, like a popcorn kernel.  Teeth with or without fillings my have this problem.  Teeth restored with silver fillings (dental amalgam) are most susceptible.  You may realize that you have a cracked tooth if you find yourself chewing on one side of your mouth, your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold, or sweet or sour food, or you feel a sharp pain when chewing or the pain that you feel is intermittent.

Treatment For Cracked Teeth:

!)  Simple Crack:   The majority of cracked teeth (about 90%) can be treated by placement of a crown on the tooth.  When the tooth is prepared for the crown, and a temporary crown is placed, the pain usually is alleviated.  If this is the case, then the final crown can be placed to resolve the problem.

2)  Complex Crack:  Occasionally (about 10%), the tooth cracks into the nerve of the tooth.  If pain persists after placement of a temporary crown, then the crack likely involves the nerve of the tooth.  The tooth then requires root canal treatment to resolve the pain.  If the crack extends beyond the nerve into the root of the tooth, then there is no hope of restoring the tooth and the tooth needs to be removed.  The best hope of avoiding tooth loss is early crown treatment to strengthen and protect the tooth from a progressively deepening crack.  Visit Adult Dentistry of Rochester to learn if you have cracked tooth syndrome.

Tags:  Cracked Tooth Syndrome, Cracked Tooth, Dental Crown, Dental Amalgam

Periodic Oral Exam

Your dentist periodic oral exam is a necessary part of your re-care appointment with your dental hygienist to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.  While watching television you probably noticed that gingivitis has made it to prime-time advertising.  For millions of people, the emphasis in dental visits has sifted from treatment of tooth decay to prevention of gum disease.

Have you noticed any of the early warning signs of gum disease?  Do the gums bleed when you brush?  Are the gums red, tender or swollen or detach from the teeth?  Does pus appear from the gum-line when the gums are pressed?  Have teeth become loose or shifted?  Is there any change in the way that your teeth fit together when you bite?  Is there any change in the fit of partial dentures?  Is there chronic bad breath?  Your dentist can help you with any of these problems.

In addition to the periodic oral examination of your lips, cheeks, teeth, gums, tongue and palate for suspicious tissue changes, the probing of the gums during the periodontal exam is performed specifically to detect the early signs of the progression of gum disease to bone decay or periodontal disease.  Dr. Dulski introduces the periodontal examination by stating, "Probing depths of ones, twos of threes with no tenderness or bleeding indicates healthy gums.  Measurements of four or more with tenderness or bleeding is a sign of infection."  This gives the patient the opportunity to learn the health status of the gums as Dr. Dulski calls out the measurements for the recording of the periodontal exam.  At Adult Dentistry of Rochester, our goal is early detection of periodontal disease through your periodic oral examination.  Our message is, "Healthy gums don't bleed.  Early detection and treatment of periodontal disease avoids tooth loss."

Tags: Periodic Oral Exam, Dentist, Periodontal Exam, Gingivitis, Periodontitis

Feeding the Foe

Research proves that there is a direct correlation between sugar intake and dental plaque formation.  Tooth decay and gum disease are basically caused by dental plaque, it's really just that simple.

Dental plaque is the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth.  This dental plaque is a combination of bacteria, sugars, and foods.  When left on the teeth, dental plaque will turn into destructive acids.  It is these acids that cause damage in the mouth through tooth decay and gum disease.  If the sticky foods which contain sugar were consumed less frequently, or preferably, eliminated from the diet, then tooth decay and gum disease would decrease significantly.

For your good dental health, be on the look-out for foods that have a high nutritional value and do not include sugar.  Raw fruits and vegetables are good choices as well as snack foods like tomato juice, peanuts, celery, carrots, and popcorn.  Get in the habit of checking product labels for added sugar.  A close look at the label will tell you whether or not it contains sugars.  When checking the labels, remember that sugar may also be listed as corn syrup, sucrose or dextrose.

Sucrose is the primary villain.  Sucrose or table sugar is known to contribute greatly to dental plaque formation because it is so easily metabolized by bacteria.  Plaque must be on the teeth in order for tooth decay and gum disease to begin.  It is true that people need sugar for energy, however it is not necessary to get it from sucrose-laden foods.  There are plenty of foods that have more complex natural sugars that bacteria cannot metabolize so readily to acids in the mouth.  Substitute peanuts, popcorn, cheese, and fresh fruits and vegetables for candy, cookies,  pies and soft drinks.

You are in charge of your dental health on a daily basis.  Success in a lifetime of great oral health depends on you.  Eat a balanced diet with good control of sucrose sugar intake to help build a healthy diet. And, visit Adult Dentistry of Rochester for regular check-ups to partner with your dental hygienist for the support that will assure success.

Tags: Dental Health, Dental Plaque, Tooth Decay, Gum Disease, Dental Hygienist

Don't Ignore Your Dental Health

If we haven't seen you for quite some time, this could mean serious consequences for your teeth and gums, such as eventual tooth loss or worse, major gum surgery.  Many types of dental problems require continuing care; the kind of care you can only get from your dentist.  Without this continuing care, the problems can progress and worsen, and this can have dangerous effects on your dental health.

                                                           Gum disease, not one is immune.

For example, did you know that gum disease is blamed for approximately 50% of all missing teeth?  Did you also know that some form of gum disease affects 87% of the population?  And, did you know that gum disease can be prevented with proper care?

                                                      Know the warning signs of gum disease.

Healthy gums are firm and resilient.  And, even though gum disease sometimes progresses without symptoms, there are some symptoms that almost always mean a problem with gum disease.

Warning sign checklist:

*  Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
*  Swollen, red and tender gums
*  Gums that have separated from the teeth
*  Loose teeth or teeth that look long because of receding gums
*  Changes in the way teeth or partial dentures fit together
*  Persistent bad taste or bad breath

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important that you come in right away. 
when we catch it in its early stages, gum disease can often be treated non-surgically.  Remember too, that gum disease doesn't always display symptoms.  If you haven't been checked in awhile, it's important that you come in so we can find any problems in their early stages.

                                                   Don't wait until you have a problem to call.

Tartar that forms on the base of your teeth and under your gums can, and will, actually pull your gums away from your teeth.  This process causes pockets in the fums where diseases flourish - and become harder to get to.  Your teeth will become loose, and you may eventually lose them.  We use the best gum care available.  It's called soft tissue management, and it's a non-surgical approach that is less costly and far less painful than having gum surgery.  Gum disease doesn't have to be a fact of life.  And that's the message we want to get across to you.  When we're able to detect gum disease early, you won't have to suffer painful surgery or the expense of replacing lost teeth.  Remember, only the trained eye of your dentist can spot problems like these in their earliest stages, and prevent pain and discomfort later.

                                                Why you should replace those missing teeth. 

If you're missing one or more permanent teeth, those empty spaces can lead to serious problems affecting your entire mouth.  A lot of people think, "If it doesn't show, it doesn't matter."  This is not true, however, because teeth are designed to support each other.   When a tooth is missing, adjoining teeth tend to move toward the open space to fill it in.  In addition to serious bite problems, this tooth movement can contribute to cavities and gum diseases, and often results in even more teeth being lost.  While our main goal is to prevent the loss of teeth, there are things we can do to replace them and prevent further problems.  But, we can't help if you don't come in.

                                                               Now you can see what I see

Thanks to revolutionary advances in dentistry, new technology has made it possible for you to see the same things that I see when you come in for a check-up.  We offer intra-oral  video imaging.  It looks like a wand with a light tip.  That light is a video camera that magnifies the inside of your mouth and projects the image on a monitor.  But what does all this mean to you?  It means that when I talk about plaque and gum disease, you'll be able to see it.  That may sound a little gruesome, but it will help you understand how important good dental hygiene and regular cleanings are to your teeth and gums.

                                                       Please call us for an all important exam.

Don't rely on your own eyes to spot problems.  Or on  your own judgement to diagnose conditions.  Again, it takes training to spot most tooth and gum problems in their earliest stages.  Remember:  Only a dental professional can see many  problems and know how to treat them.  Before you have a problem that needs extensive care, visit the professionals at Adult Dentistry of Rochester.  Preventive care is your best defense against tooth and gum decay,  not to mention possible surgery.

Tags: Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, Intra-Oral Camera

Why Be Concerned About High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the amount of force that the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels as it passes through smaller and smaller branches to all parts of the body.  The branches of the circulatory system eventually reach the organs where abnormally high blood pressure can harm the smaller branches of the circulatory tree.  The body structures that chronically high blood pressure (hypertension) affects the most include the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.  The diseases resulting from blood vessel damage in these organs are congestive heart failure, stroke, blindness, heart attack, and kidney failure.

For example, high blood pressure is a factor in 2/3rds of strokes, 2/3rds of heart attack, 3/4ths of heart failure, and 1/4th of kidney failure.  High  blood pressure is also a factor in Alzheimer's Disease.  Many people do not have symptoms of high blood pressure until blood vessel damage in these organs causes disease, so the conditions in the early stages when these diseases could be prevented are ignored because there is no discomfort.  Getting high blood pressure under control at an early stage can add years to a person's life.  At Adult Dentistry of Rochester, we routinely check your blood pressure.  Visit us to learn your blood pressure, what it means to your health, and what life style changes can improve your blood pressure and quality of life.

Tags: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, High Blood Pressure

Esthetic Management of Extractions

Tooth extraction typically leads to loss of tooth-bone width and height leading to a less than attractive tooth replacement with a dental implant.  Studies show that tooth-bone preservation using Freeze Dried Bone Allograft (FDBA) and a collagen membrane improves tooth-bone height and width dimensions when compared to extractions alone.  These dimensions retain the normal architecture of the tooth-bone for a more natural-appearing implant placement, especially in the smile zone.

These techniques improve both the quality and quantity of bone available to support the implant increasing the chance of implant success.  Tooth implants are the most natural way to replace a lost tooth.    For a free consultation to learn how these restorative procedures can restore your smile to its natural beauty, visit Adult Dentistry of Rochester.

Tags: Tooth Extraction, Dental Implants