Diabetics May Need More Involved Treatment For Gum Health

Posted on Jan 06, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Recent research findings have reinforced the need for patients with diabetes to be especially diligent about maintaining their periodontal (gum) health. The latest findings show a relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease. While some levels of gum disease respond to non-surgical periodontal treatment, diabetics may require more intensive treatment to fully resolve the problem.

The study included over 500 subjects with type 2 diabetes as well as moderate to advanced gum disease. Glycated hemoglobin levels were assessed at 3 and 6 month intervals. The outcome suggests that non-surgical therapy can fail to eliminate periodontal disease unless in the earliest stages (such as gingivitis). Those who had moderate to advanced periodontal disease were shown to require the advanced skills and treatment of a Periodontal Specialist to fully restore the patient to a healthy oral state.

As an inflammatory condition, periodontal disease can damage the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth. Without treatment, gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss, and more. In addition to diabetes, periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, patients with diabetes should receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation on a yearly basis. If the disease is present, diabetic patients may need non-surgical periodontal care or more advanced treatment. However, a Periodontal Specialist is trained to appropriately evaluate what is best for each individual’s needs. Call (828) 274-9440 to arrange an examination.

Give Your Smile A Healthy Foundation To Prevent Problems In The First Place!

Posted on Dec 16, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Imagine contracting a house painter to paint a home infested by termites. Or, even worse, knowing the house has termites and hoping they’ll go away.

Your smile is a reflection on your appearance, hygiene standards, personality, and affects speech, digestion and your ability to enjoy foods – enhancing your life every day in many ways. Yet, the value of a healthy mouth goes even further.

The bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease can become bloodborne through tears in gum tissue. As it travels throughout the body, this inflammatory bacteria can trigger reactions that have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, pre-term babies and even impotency. Gum disease is also the number one reason for adult tooth loss in this country.

The best way to have, and keep, a healthy mouth is to begin with its foundation. If your gums are not healthy, you will experience continual problems that just get worse and worse.

Your six-month dental hygiene visits remove tartar and plaque that has accumulated between visits. However, gums that are tender while your teeth are being cleaned is not necessarily because the hygienist is rough. Tender gums indicate the presence of bacteria. This is when periodontal therapy through a trained periodontal specialist will adequately help you regain a healthy mouth in a way that is appropriate to your individual needs.

For example, if your gum disease is at a specific level in some areas but not others, a Periodontist will customize your treatment accordingly so you don’t receive more (or less) treatment than necessary in any particular area. Your treatment by a Periodontist will restore your oral health for a foundation that is easy to maintain and actually helps you prevent problems in the first place.

A Periodontist has earned a dental doctorate and then continues an additional 3-4 years in school to become an expert in the soft tissues in your mouth, including dental implant placement. Think of it this way: Rather than have a house painter put a fresh coat of paint on termite infested siding, find the right person who can rid you of termites once and for all! Call (828) 274-9440 to learn more.

Is Gum Health Related To Mental Sharpness?

Posted on Dec 03, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Mental alertness seems to decline as people age. But, could this have more to do with tooth loss and inflamed gums than the aging process? The findings of a study indicate a possible association between oral health and cognitive function (the mental process of knowing, awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment) in middle aged adults. As part of the national Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, researchers investigated whether tooth loss and the presence of periodontal (gum) disease relate to reduced mental function.

Participants included over 11,000 late middle–aged adults who were studied from 1996 through 1998. Researchers measured delayed word recall, digit-symbol substitution and word fluency accompanied by a dental screening. Of the 8,554 participants who had natural teeth remaining, nearly 6,000 were given oral exams to measure dental condition, number of natural teeth and presence of inflammation from gum disease. Adjustments were made for factors including smoking, alcohol use and diabetes.

Approximately 13% of the study’s participants were totally without teeth. Of the participants with remaining natural teeth, over 27% had less than 20 teeth. Over 12% of those showed some level of periodontal (gum) disease.

Compared with participants who had natural teeth remaining, those without any natural teeth had lower scores for all cognitive tests. For participants who had fewer teeth and bleeding gums, they had lower digit-symbol substitution and word fluency scores.

The researchers feel the findings show that the absence of natural teeth relates to having less mental sharpness. Tooth loss and bleeding gums (a sign of periodontal bacteria) also seems to indicate reduced mental function among middle age people who still have some or all natural teeth.

Does being without teeth and having gum disease mean you are at risk for cognitive decline? Or, can gum inflammation negatively effect an adult’s mental sharpness as early as middle age? As research continues, we will keep you updated on the findings.

In the meantime, remember that prior research has already established that the health of your mouth effects your overall health. The bacteria of gum disease can become bloodborne through inflamed tissues and cause adverse reactions elsewhere in the body. This bacteria has been associated with coronary artery disease, diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies, and memory loss.

Be  committed to your oral health and your entire body will thank you!

How To Spend Less On Dental Care

Posted on Nov 18, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As a Periodontal Specialist, I see the insides of many, many mouths. Occasionally, I see a patient who wants to improve the appearance of their smile, such as through crown lengthening or repairing a ‘gummy smile.’ In most cases, however, the mouths I see are in dire need of care.

Whether an adult is at my office for dental implant placement due to lost teeth or needs their gum health restored due to periodontal disease, most of these situations are avoidable. And, their condition is not always one of neglect as much as from a lack of knowledge.

While commercials promote denture creams, tooth paste and whitening strips, there has been little public awareness of how to adequately care for one’s teeth and gum health. A dental hygienist may urge you to floss, but do you really know how? Or, do you know why you should and what can happen if you don’t?

A vast amount of research is showing how your oral health can impact your overall health and even contribute to the onset of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and preterm babies. Yet, the American population still lacks the understanding of how easy it is to prevent problems from occurring in the mouth in the first place.

This year, be determined to save your money on dentistry and spend mere minutes per day tending to your oral health. The key is to:

Floss daily – Ask for a ‘flossing lesson’ if you’re having difficulty

Brush thoroughly (at least twice a day) using a soft bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste

Swish after meals when you cannot brush and drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist

Use a tongue scrapper daily to remove bacteria embedded in the tongue

Maintain your 6-month dental check-ups and cleanings

Keep between-meal snacking to a minimum and avoid sugar whenever possible

If you have soft enamel, ask your dentist for sealants. When teeth are cracked or fractured, have them crowned as soon as possible.

If you are missing teeth, replace them – preferably with dental implants.

We tend to spend many hundreds of dollars on the upkeep of our automobiles, yet, balk at investing in our oral health and appearance. Your smile is worth the attention you can give it each day to keep your smile in good working order and looking great! Be as committed to your smile as your vehicle and you’ll save time, money and enjoy overall health benefits all day, every day!