Healthy Gums Important For Moms-To-Be

Posted on Oct 10, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

If you followed any of the AMC network’s seven seasons of “Mad Men,” you likely watched episodes where the pregnant wives were not only drinking cocktails, but smoking cigarettes. This is shocking today. Yet in the 1960’s, the decade in which the series took place, it was fairly commonplace.

Times have changed. Today, we not only know about the hazards of smoking and alcohol for adults in general, we know that whatever a mom-to-be consumes can pass through to her unborn baby. Being pregnant in this decade comes with a long list of what to avoid during pregnancy. This includes dietary restrictions, medications, fumes, and especially smoking and alcohol.

We now have greater awareness when it comes to what may be potentially harmful to a developing fetus. An often overlooked hazard for its potential harm to unborn babies is that of periodontal (gum) disease. Fortunately, a growing awareness among the medical field is cautioning pregnant females to keep their gums in healthy shape for the good of their smile and their baby.

For years now, studies have shown that women with periodontal (gum) disease are at higher risk for pre-term babies or low-birth weight babies (babies born with a birth weight of less than 5.5 lbs.). Babies born under these circumstances are at greater risk for long-term health problems, including delayed motor skills, social development and learning disabilities. Additionally, a baby born 3 weeks or more prior to its due date can have similar complications in addition to respiratory problems, vision and hearing loss and digestive problems.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition, resulting from an overload of bacterial accumulation in the mouth. This infectious bacteria can attack gum tissues and the bone structure that supports teeth. Like many diseases in our bodies, gum disease begins without obvious warning signs. Once symptoms emerge, they include tender gums, swollen gums, gums that bleed when brushing, gums that pull away from teeth, persistent bad breath and teeth that become loose. While these signs should create a sense of urgency for anyone who experiences them, responding to them is especially important during pregnancy.

Gum disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss and is linked to other serious diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), medical and dental communities agree that maintaining good periodontal health during pregnancy is important. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, stay current on your dental check-ups and cleanings. Also, be committed to a thorough at-home oral hygiene regimen. This includes twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular dental check-ups.

This is also supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who now encourage pregnant women to achieve and maintain good oral health. In addition to regular dental cleanings during pregnancy, watch for signs of gum disease since hormonal levels during pregnancy make you more susceptible to gum problems, including Pregnancy Gingivitis (which are similar to gum disease symptoms). If signs of gum disease are present, non-surgical periodontal therapy is safe for pregnant women and can improve gum health.

Through all phases of your pregnancy, make oral hygiene a priority. If you are behind on dental check-ups, seeing a Periodontal specialist can help to reduce your risk for adverse pregnancy complications. This will also help to reduce your own risk for health problems while you support a safe pregnancy and healthy baby.

Gum disease can trigger systemic inflammation in the body, resulting in a higher risk for serious health problems. In addition to pre-term, low birth weight babies, these include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers, arthritis, diabetes and impotency.

To learn more about gum health as it relates to pregnancy, visit the web site of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).
https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-women

To schedule an examination, call 828-274-9440.

Afraid Of Going To The Dentist? Fear Has Big Price Tag.

Posted on Aug 15, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

In my periodontal specialty, I see a large number of patients who have developed gum disease or have lost teeth because they were too afraid to go to a dentist. Some people have even avoided dental care for decades. Yet, like a leaky roof on a house, ignoring the problem only leads to bigger, more complicated issues to deal with eventually that can’t be avoided.

Dental fear is a major problem in the U.S. and is a contributing factor to developing periodontal disease. Because gum disease begins without obvious warning signs, it is often allowed to develop further. This can create more complex problems and the need for treatment that is more involved and costly than if caught early on.

Gum disease, at some level, affects over 47% of American adults. However, most Americans are unfamiliar with the typical warning signs. These include tender gums that bleed easily when brushing, bad breath and swollen gums. As the disease progresses, gums become redder from inflammation and may recede from teeth, exposing tooth roots segments that are sensitive to hot and cold.

While it is estimated that over 70% of adults have some level of dental fear, from anxiety to dental phobia (an uncontrollable reaction that causes some adults to shake, sweat or even cry when faced with a dental visit), there is no typical persona when it comes to who has dental fear and who does not. There is no common age, gender or educational level, nor is there a typical income level.

What is ‘normal,’ so to speak, is the fact that most dental fear exists because of a traumatic experience in a dental chair in the past. This may have been as a child when a dentist was too rough or forceful. It may have been as an adult when the patient was not yet numb, yet the dentist continued to work on a tooth.

Dental fear, once embedded in the brain, often triggers perceived pain in the future. What exacerbates it is how it leaves a patient feeling vulnerable. When reclined in a treatment chair and unable to see what is taking place in a sensitive area such as the mouth, there is a sense of not being in control. For those who have experienced pain thrust upon them in the past that continued beyond their pleas, this sensation of helplessness is not something that is easily overcome.

In our office, we frequently see patients because they are beyond what can be treated by a general dentist. A Periodontist specializes in all levels of gum disease. This means that we have the best potential to help you save your natural teeth, even when at advanced levels.

While red, inflamed gums may not sound highly serious, they are. Research has shown that the oral bacteria of periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and create inflammatory reactions. This is known as systemic inflammation. This inflammation has been linked to serious health problems including pre-term babies, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, some cancers, impotency and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Apparently, healthy gums are important to having good, overall health. Your periodontal wellness is important and dental fear can be addressed so you can achieve a healthy, confident smile without feeling white-knuckled in the dental chair! We offer oral sedation, which is in pill form, for relaxation. We also offer I.V. sedation that creates a “twilight sleep” state.

Both sedation options are safe. Trained staff monitor sedated patients throughout treatment using special safety equipment. Both tend to erase most, if not all, memory of treatment afterward and recovery for both is fairly quick. Within hours for oral sedation and without 24 hours for I.V. sedation.

However, as a dental specialist AND a caring, compassionate caregiver, I have seen patients relax the most when they realize our goal is to make sure they are always comfortable. We never want a patient to feel helpless or vulnerable in our dental chair. Once a new patient explains their concerns about comfort and we discuss options to keep them relaxed and comfortable, we will determine – together – the best sedation and pace of treatment that fits.

Consider beginning with a consultation appointment so we can get to know one another. We can arrange to meet in our private consultation room that is removed from the clinical side of the practice. Here, we’ll sit in comfy arm chairs and have a conversation about your specific needs.

Call 828-274-9440 and let’s get your smile in great shape! After all, having a smile that looks as good as it feels is a reason, in itself, to smile!

Dementia Adds To Periodontal Disease Risk For Aging Population

Posted on Aug 08, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Our population is getting older, and not just that of the U.S.  Globally, nations are looking at an aging population and how to address the diminished physical and cognitive abilities facing them.

In Stockholm, Sweden, for example, researchers from the Karolinska Institute examined the data of over 58,000 persons between 2007 and 2015, including dental health data. Common problems associated with aging include xerostomia (dry mouth), root and tooth decay, and periodontal disease along with increased sensitivity to local anesthetics.

Researchers found that a reduction in the utilization of dental health services was more predominant in patients with neuro-degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, a particular form of dementia. Those who experienced diminished cognitive function were at higher risk of developing several oral conditions, including periodontal disease. (http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/news/europe/35704_frequency_of_dental_visits_dramatically_decreases_after_dementia_diagnosis.html)

Although forgetting twice-daily brushing and flossing and having regular dental visits may seem less urgent than tending to other health care issues, research is continually linking serious, and even deadly, diseases and conditions to the oral bacteria of periodontal disease. These include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, preterm babies, impotency, some cancers, and erectile dysfunction (ED).

The massive Swedish study is a reminder that older adults may need added assistance when it comes to making their oral health a priority. This applies to at-home oral care routines and having periodic dental check-ups. For those in the U.S., the need is now and only becoming more dire with each passing year.

According to the U.S. Census (https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2017/cb17-ff08.html), “By 2060, people age 65 and older will comprise nearly one in four U.S. residents. Of this number, 19.7 million will be age 85 or older.”

And, the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention adds that life expectancy is nearing the age 100 mark with both sexes at 65 years having an average of another 19.3 years to live. While men at 65 years are looking at another 18 years (on average), age 65 women have an average of an additional 20.5 years.

These figures are especially alarming since studies show a dramatic decrease in the number of dental visits before and after a dementia diagnosis. The first step, obviously, is better organization to detect these patients and ensure they attend to their dental health.

If you have an aging loved one in your care who may be showing signs of dementia, consider ways to help them keep their oral health in good condition. This applies to those who have their natural teeth as well as those who wear dentures or partials. Many people assume that not having natural teeth eliminates the risk of developing gum disease. To the contrary, dentures and partials can rub sore spots on tender gum tissues, making them more vulnerable to bacterial penetration.

Begin by having a periodontist conduct a thorough periodontal examination to determine if there is the presence of periodontal disease. If not, he or she can help establish an effective at-home program to follow and schedule more-frequent dental check-ups.

Through research, we’re learning that maintaining good overall health starts with a healthy smile. Staying healthy throughout our lifetimes is a goal we can all strive for and an easy, loving way to help our aging population.

Call 828-274-9440.

Could Gum Health Make You More Likely To Develop Cancer?

Posted on Jul 18, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Periodontitis is commonly referred to as gum disease or periodontal disease. It begins with Gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gums, typically due to inadequate oral hygiene. Periodontitis creates an infectious cauldron of bacteria that attacks the structures supporting your natural teeth.

According to research published by the National Institutes of Health (and the U.S. National Library of Medicine), evidence indicates that chronic infections and inflammation such as periodontal disease create an increased risk for developing some cancers. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3917197/)

Along the same lines, there is considerable evidence that shows a relationship between bacterial and viral infections and cancer development. Because periodontitis is a bacterial infection, it has warranted more attention in recent decades as a source for other health problems.

For example, it has been determined that arthritis, an inflammation of the joints, and periodontal disease show similarities. When the tissues of both gum disease and RA are examined, their clinical structures are similar with the pathological processes being nearly identical.

Periodontitis creates a cycle that leads to the chronic release of inflammatory cytokines (a substance secreted by immune system cells that effect other cells), prostaglandins (designed to aid in tissue damage recovery), growth factors and enzymes. The combined reactions are closely associated with the development of cancer.

While all of this sounds very scientific and complex, it boils down to something that research has noted time and time again — the oral bacteria of gum disease can trigger harmful reactions elsewhere in the body.

The bacteria of gum disease can enter the bloodstream through weakened oral tissues. Once bloodborne, it can travel throughout the body and create systemic inflammation. Research has already found links between the inflammatory triggers of gum disease and heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, preterm babies, diabetes, arthritis, erectile dysfunction and impotency.

There has also been research to support a correlation between periodontitis and pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and prostrate cancer. While more research is needed to pinpoint the cause-&-effect, the connection with oral bacteria and the chronic inflammation that can result is established.

Although over 47 percent of American adults have some level of periodontal disease, more education is needed so a stronger proactive stance can be taken. In addition to twice daily brushing and daily flossing, a particular caution should go out to denture and partial wearers. Why?

These appliances can become loose over time due to bone loss that occurs when tooth roots are no longer present in the jaw bone. They can rub sore spots on tender gum tissues in an attempt to chew, which increases susceptibility to gum inflammation.

One of the reasons we are strong proponents of dental implants is their ability to halt bone loss by recreating the presence of missing tooth roots. Additionally, they do not move when eating or speaking, eliminating the possibility of sore spots.

Your oral health is an important component of your overall health. Think of your mouth as the front door to your body. By keeping a healthy smile, your overall health will benefit. And the time and expense to have excellent gum health is so little! Just minutes per day and twice a year visits to your dentist should help you enjoy all the benefits of a clean, fresh smile!

If you’ve fallen behind on dental visits or suspect you have gum disease, begin with a thorough examination by a Periodontist. A Periodontist specializes in gum health and is the expert in treating all levels of gum disease.

Signs of gum disease include sore or bleeding gums (including seeing blood in the sink when brushing), swollen gums, gums that turn red in color, persistent bad breath, pus pockets on gums, gums that recede from teeth, and teeth that eventually loosen.

Remember — gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. It will only worsen without treatment. Please see a periodontal specialist promptly if you’re experiencing any of these signs. Your entire body will benefit through your commitment to having health gums!

Call 828-274-9440.