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!

Tackle Gum Disease Sooner Than Later

Posted on Nov 26, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

While regular dental check-ups and cleanings are designed to help you maintain a healthy mouth and catch problems at the earliest stage possible, these visits are not structured to treat a mouth that shows signs of gum disease.

Like many diseases that form in our bodies, there are no obvious signs as gum disease is first forming. For example, by the time many women discover a lump in their breast, it is because it has grown to a sizable mass. This is why mammograms are recommended at regular intervals, so a growth can be remedied when treatment requirements are (hopefully) still minimal.

The initial stages of gum disease are silent. Once symptoms emerge, such as gums that bleed when brushing or persistent bad breath, a more intensive form of “cleaning” is required. This can be successfully and comfortably completed by a Periodontal Specialist, who is specifically trained to treat even late-stage periodontal disease.

By seeking this specialized care, you can hopefully avoid tooth loss. Gum disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss, often due to delay in treatment. Once the mouth is restored to good oral health, resuming a committed home care regimen and regular dental cleanings can help keep it that way.

Maintaining good oral health is also necessary to support overall health. The bacteria of gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies and impotency. Research has continually shown just how devastating oral bacteria can be once it enters the bloodstream through diseased gum tissue.

Without treatment, gum disease will continue to worsen. The gums become sore and tender and pus pockets form around teeth. Eventually, teeth will loosen and have to be removed. Tooth loss creates an entirely new set of problems.

If you suspect you have gum disease, take proactive measures now by getting periodontal disease effectively treated. Call (828) 274-9440 for an appointment.