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12/25/2022

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With innovations in oral health, older adults are much more likely to keep their natural teeth than in the past. Despite...
12/19/2019

With innovations in oral health, older adults are much more likely to keep their natural teeth than in the past. Despite these developments, periodontal disease continues to see its greatest prevalence among people over the age of 65.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that may put you at higher risk for other diseases, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

During your dental visits, be sure to let your dental professional know if you have any medical conditions and whether you have a family history of periodontal disease. Be sure to inform him or her of any medications you are taking as well. Certain medications (including antidepressants, antihistamines, and high blood pressure drugs) can lead to the development or advancement of periodontal disease.

Likewise, if you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to share this information with your physician to ensure that you are receiving well-rounded care for both your physical and oral conditions.

Even if you’ve succeeded in avoiding the development of periodontal disease as you age, it is important to continue to maintain your oral care routine. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. If you have dexterity problems or a physical disability that makes it difficult for you to brush or floss, your dentist or periodontist can recommend tools and techniques to help keep your teeth and gums clean.

You should also receive an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation, which will assess your periodontal health and check for any changes in the teeth, gums, and supporting bone.
Maintaining your oral health should be a priority at any age. As you get older, be sure to continue to take care of your teeth and gums to ensure that they’ll stay healthy and strong for life.

64% of U.S. adults ages 65 and older have moderate or severe periodontal disease

From the American Academy of PeriodontologyA regular visit to your periodontist should be part of your overall health an...
12/02/2019

From the American Academy of Periodontology

A regular visit to your periodontist should be part of your overall health and wellness plan. And while a bi-annual dental checkup and cleaning are necessary, these visits may not include a detailed look at the health of your gums. The American Academy of Periodontology recommends that all adults undergo a comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) once a year.

What is a Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation? A CPE assesses your risk of periodontal disease and determines the right types of treatment if periodontal disease is diagnosed.

Teeth: Your dental professional will evaluate each tooth as well as dental fillings, implants, crowns, or other types of restoration. The position of the teeth and their closeness to each other will be noted.

Bite: The evaluation will include a check of the way your teeth come together when your mouth is closed, also known as occlusion or bite. Your dental professional will look for moving or loose teeth, which can be a sign of periodontal disease.

Plaque and Tartar Buildup: The amount and location of bacterial plaque and tartar will be assessed.

Gums: A dental probe will be inserted into the spaces between your teeth and gums to see how well your gums attach to your teeth. Any inflammation or bleeding that occurs during the probing process is documented.

Bone Structure: X-rays may be taken to evaluate the quality of the bone in your upper and lower jaw and to determine if any bone loss has occurred.

Risk Factors: Your dental professional will ask about a number of periodontal disease risk factors, including age, to***co use, family history of periodontal disease, or if you have another systemic condition that may be linked to periodontal disease, such as heart disease or diabetes.
An Annual Snapshot of Your Oral Health: The Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation
Why Do I Need a Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation?

With periodontal disease affecting nearly 64.7 million people in the United States (almost one in every two adults over the age of 30), the health of your gums should be monitored consistently to minimize your risk. Many patients don’t see a dental professional until after they’ve noticed pain, bleeding gums, or loosening teeth― all signs that periodontal disease is in its advanced stages. An annual CPE can detect peridontal disease before it becomes severe, and is the first step to creating a suitable treatment and/or maintenance plan for your individual situation.

The American Academy of Periodontology provides this information as a public service, and it should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal periodontist. There may be variations in treatment that your periodontist will recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Visit perio.org for more information on periodontal disease. © 2018 Amercian Academy of Periodontology

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants look and f...
12/02/2019

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, and with proper care, they can be a long-term solution to tooth replacement.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Appearance: The replacement teeth that dental implants are built to hold will appear identical to your surrounding teeth. No one will know you have a replacement tooth.

Reliability: The success rates of dental implants are highly predictable. When placed by a periodontist and with diligent at-home maintenance, a dental implant can last for many years.

Confidence: Because they are secured into the jaw, dental implants function like natural teeth, allowing you to confidently smile, speak, and eat.

Comfort: Dental implants fuse into your jawbone, becoming permanent. Unlike dentures, they will stay comfortably in place and do not require messy adhesives.

Improved Oral Health: Because the adjacent teeth are not affected by dental implants, your long-term oral health is not compromised.

Dental Implant Treatment

Your periodontist, in collaboration with your general dentist, will develop a treatment plan unique to your specific needs. The dental implant, often a small titanium post, is first placed into the jawbone where the missing tooth is. Your jawbone will grow around the dental implant through a process called osseointegration. Once the jawbone has fused with the dental implant, an abutment, which attaches to the replacement tooth, will be placed. Typically, the replacement tooth is affixed by a general or restorative dentist. The entire dental implant process—including extraction, integration of the implant, and periods of healing—can take up to several months depending on your treatment plan.

Dental Implant Care

Because dental implants look and function like natural teeth, they require the same care. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) recommends brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and receiving regular check-ups including an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation.

A Patient’s Guide to Dental Implants

As specialists in treating gum tissue and the underlying bone in the mouth, periodontists are uniquely qualified to place and maintain dental implants. Periodontists receive three additional years of training after dental school to master the surgical skills needed to provide predictable and successful dental implant treatment.

The American Academy of Periodontology provides this information as a public service, and it should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal periodontist. There may be variations in treatment that your periodontist will recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Visit perio.org for more information on periodontal disease.

About the ConditionsDiabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., affecting nearly 26 million Americans. D...
12/02/2019

About the Conditions

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., affecting nearly 26 million Americans. Diabetes causes the body not to produce or properly supply insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar
(or glucose) into energy. People with diabetes may experience a host of other systemic complications, including periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory response to a bacterial infection in the gums. If left untreated, the disease may cause damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth, possibly leading to tooth loss. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop periodontal disease than those without diabetes. Additionally, people with diabetes tend to experience more severe levels of bone loss and more aggressive disease activity.

Links and Increased Risks

The tooth loss seen as a result of severe untreated periodontal disease can make chewing and digesting food difficult, having a negative impact on a diabetic’s ability to maintain proper nutrition and control his or her blood sugar levels. Periodontal disease also raises a person’s systemic inflammatory signals, which increase blood sugar. It is important for people with diabetes to treat periodontal disease to eliminate the infection for optimal metabolic control.

A series of 2012 consensus reports from the American Academy of Periodontology and the European Federation of Periodontology indicate “an independent association between moderate periodontitis and an increased risk for the development or progression of diabetes.” The shared culprit in periodontitis and diabetes is inflammation, which can aggravate both conditions.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Although a regular oral hygiene routine is important for everyone to follow, people with diabetes should be particularly diligent about how they care for their gums and teeth. In addition to brushing twice a day and flossing regularly, people with diabetes should undergo a yearly comprehensive periodontal evaluation. If periodontal disease is detected, a periodontist can provide treatment that can stop the disease and bring the gums back to a state of health, preventing additional bone or tooth loss. In fact, periodontal treatment has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Depending on the patient’s unique case, the periodontist will advise on next steps for treatment and care. Patients are advised to develop an informed care team—comprised of a periodontist, physician, and other necessary health professionals—that work together in monitoring and addressing changes in their diabetes or periodontal health statuses.

Tip

People with diabetes may want to schedule their dental appointments early in the morning after they have eaten a normal breakfast in order to stabilize blood sugar and prevent a severe or sudden drop in blood sugar levels.

Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) is a chronic inflammatory condition in which plaque bacteria accumulate ...
12/02/2019

Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) is a chronic inflammatory condition in which plaque bacteria accumulate below the gum line. Over time, the inflammatory response to the bacteria can cause the erosion of gum tissue and supporting bone. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.

The good news is that through such treatments as scaling and root planing, a periodontist can help you reduce the inflammation in your gums. There are a few things you can do at home to help reduce inflammation in your mouth and body.

Diet

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids―including oily cold -water fish (salmon, tuna, herring, or sardines) and walnuts―have been found to reduce inflammation. The body does not produce these acids naturally, and they can come only from consuming certain foods. Additionally, antioxidant-rich green tea has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.

Exercise

People who exercise regularly demonstrate fewer incidences of periodontal disease than those who do not exercise regularly. While moderate exercise may help reduce inflammation in your body, extreme exercise (such as marathon running) can actually increase systemic inflammation. Exercise also reduces stress, another risk factor for periodontal disease. Stress has a negative impact on the body’s ability to fight infection and inflammation.

It’s a good idea to discuss your exercise plan with a health professional to ensure that it’s a good fit for your lifestyle.

Brushing and Flossing

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) recommends brushing twice a day and flossing daily as a part of a daily oral health routine. You should also undergo a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year to assess the health of your gums.

If periodontal disease does develop, your periodontist can develop an effective treatment plan for your unique needs.

Other Systemic Conditions and Periodontal Disease Development

Research suggests that periodontal disease shares an association with systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The AAP recommends that if you are living with any of these conditions, notify your periodontist of your medical history. Likewise, if you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, you should make your physician aware and create an informed care team that can manage both your oral and physical ailments effectively.

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that periodontal disease is significantly more pr...
12/02/2019

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that periodontal disease is significantly more prevalent in men (nearly 60 percent of U.S. adults over 30) than in women (nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults over 30). This may be because men, who are less likely to see the dentist regularly, also have worse indicators of periodontal health than women, including higher incidence of dental plaque, tartar, and bleeding during a dental exam.

With their increased likelihood of periodontal disease development, men are advised to prioritize their periodontal health as it may have an impact on a variety of other health factors.

Prostate-Specific Antigen

There is evidence of a possible link between prostate health and periodontal health. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein created in the prostate and is normally secreted in very small amounts. When the prostate becomes inflamed, infected, or affected by cancer, PSA levels rise. Research has demonstrated that men with indicators of periodontal disease (such as red, swollen, or tender gums) and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) have higher levels of PSA than men with only one of these conditions.

Cardiovascular Disease

Research finds that periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease may share an association, as having periodontal disease may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Both diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions, and researchers believe that inflammation is the shared culprit. Because men have a higher cardiovascular disease risk than women, maintaining periodontal health may be a factor in also maintaining cardiovascular health.

Impotence

Men with periodontal disease may be more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. One study found that prolonged chronic inflammation (the same type of inflammation that is associated with periodontal disease) can affect the lining of the blood vessels throughout the body, which can lead to impotence.

Cancer

Men with a history of periodontal disease are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men with healthy gums. Specifically, men with periodontal disease may be 49 percent more likely than women to develop kidney cancer, 54 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancers.

Another Step: The Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation (CPE)

With periodontal disease affecting nearly 64.7 million people in the United States (that’s about one in every two adults over the age of 30), the health of your gums should be regularly monitored to minimize your risk.

Many patients don’t see a dental professional until after they’ve noticed pain, bleeding gums, or loosening teeth― all signs that periodontal disease is in its advanced stages. An annual CPE can detect peridontal disease before it becomes severe, and is the first step to creating a suitable treatment and/or maintenance plan for your individual situation.

Certain cancer treatments can have side effects that may compromise the health of your gums. Understanding how to reduce...
12/02/2019

Certain cancer treatments can have side effects that may compromise the health of your gums. Understanding how to reduce impact on your gums is the first step to maintaining periodontal health during cancer therapy.

Pretreatment Evaluation and Oral Hygiene Routine

It is important to visit your periodontist for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation before undergoing any type of cancer treatment. Identifying and correcting potential problems in your mouth may prevent them from intensifying or interfering with chemotherapy or radiation. In addition to pretreatment care, your periodontist will likely recommend a daily oral hygiene routine to provide comfort, reduce the risk of infection, and minimize the effects of the complications caused by the cancer treatment.

Oral Complications

Common side effects of cancer treatments (including chemotherapy, radiation to the head and neck, and bone marrow transplantation) can have a negative impact on your oral health.

Radiation and chemotherapy kill cancer cells, but they can also hurt normal cells. Side effects vary for every person, but common oral complications include inflamed gums and mouth ulcers, dry mouth, erosion of tooth enamel, loss of taste, jaw stiffness, and delayed healing.

Although pretreatment and daily oral hygiene can go a long way toward keeping your mouth healthy and comfortable during cancer treatment, it may be difficult to keep side effects at bay. Chemotherapy and radiation can decrease your salivary secretion, causing excessive dryness in the mouth and increasing your susceptibility to infection. Therefore, it is important to keep your mouth moist by sipping cool water, melting ice chips in your mouth, chewing sugarless gum, applying lip balm to your lips, and using a humidifier in your bedroom to reduce oral dryness at night.

Protecting the enamel (outer surface) of your teeth is important if you’re experiencing dry mouth or vomiting.

Your periodontist may prescribe fluoride trays, which will prevent the tooth enamel from wearing away due to vomiting or increased oral bacteria from dry mouth. You may also want to consider asking your oncologist to prescribe anti-nausea medication during your cancer therapy to treat nausea and vomiting.

Oral Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 49,000 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of mouth or throat cancer in 2017.

Oral cancer can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissues, cheek lining, and the hard or soft palates. Risk factors include all forms of to***co use and the heavy use of alcohol.

As with many forms of cancer, early detection can improve the chances of successful treatment. By seeing a periodontist regularly and by being aware of any changes in your mouth (including sores, lumps, and trouble moving your jaw or tongue), you’re taking an active role in detecting signs of oral cancer early.

Inflammation and Periodontal DiseaseMost people know that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a necessary step in achi...
07/29/2019

Inflammation and Periodontal Disease

Most people know that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a necessary step in achieving overall wellbeing. In fact, now not only dentists encourage brushing and flossing, but many physicians also promote oral hygiene as a way to help keep the rest of the body healthy. Several research studies have suggested that gum disease may be associated with other health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. And with more and more research reinforcing the connection between periodontal and systemic health, scientists are beginning to understand why these connections exist. One theory points to chronic inflammation as the culprit.

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harm, such as an injury or infection. For many years, dentists believed that gum disease developed as a result of a bacterial infection caused by the build-up of plaque between the teeth and under the gums. While plaque build-up is still a factor in the development and progression of gum disease, researchers now suspect that the more severe symptoms, namely swollen, bleeding gums; recession around the gum line, and loss of the bone that holds the teeth in place, may actually be caused by the chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection, rather than the bacteria itself.

Scientists hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory response mechanism may be the reason behind the periodontal-systemic health link. Many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease are also considered to be systemic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and even certain forms of cancer, suggesting that chronic inflammation itself may be the basis for the connection.

More research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the relationship between gum disease and other disease states. However, since previous findings have indicated that gum disease sufferers are at a higher risk for other diseases, it is critical to maintain periodontal health in an effort to achieve overall health.

Dentists recommend daily oral care, including regular brushing and flossing, and routine visits to the dentist to avoid gum disease. If gum disease develops, consultation with a dental professional such as a periodontist can lead to effective treatment. A periodontist is a dentist with three years of additional specialized training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.

For more information on the role of inflammation in oral health, tips on how to prevent or treat gum disease, to find out if you are at risk, or to find a local periodontist, visit perio.org.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation. Acute cases of inflammation are easily identifiable, and are often characterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain around the affected area. While acute inflammation initially intends to heal the body, over time, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction or destruction of the infected tissues, and potentially more severe health complications.

http://www.pechterperio.com/inflammation-and-periodontal-disease.htm

Diabetes and Periodontal Diseases: A Two-Way StreetIf you have diabetes, you know that it’s important to regulate your ...
07/29/2019

Diabetes and Periodontal Diseases: A Two-Way Street

If you have diabetes, you know that it’s important to regulate your blood sugar levels for the well-being of your body from head to toe. But, you may not know that what happens to you from head to toe can affect your diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is not a single disease; it occurs in several forms and has complications that affect virtually every system of the body. If you have diabetes, you may be at a greater risk for developing other medical conditions, including periodontal diseases (also known as gum disease).

Periodontal diseases are chronic bacterial gum infections that inflame gum tissue and destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth. Left untreated, the teeth may fall out or need to be removed.

Periodontal diseases are the sixth leading complications of diabetes. Studies show that diabetic patients are up to 4.2 times more likely to develop periodontal diseases than those without diabetes. This is probably because diabetic patients are more susceptible to contracting infections.

Research suggests that the relationship between periodontal diseases and diabetes goes both ways – periodontal diseases may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. Periodontal diseases may increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. Consequently, it is important for diabetic patients to treat periodontal diseases to eliminate the infection. In fact, periodontal treatment combined with antibiotics has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, suggesting that treating patients’ periodontal diseases could decrease insulin requirements.

The good news is that if your diabetes is under control, you are less likely to develop periodontal diseases than someone whose diabetes is poorly controlled. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology concluded that poorly controlled diabetic patients respond differently to bacterial plaque at the gum line than well-controlled diabetic patients. Poorly controlled patients with diabetes also have more harmful proteins in their gum tissue causing destructive inflammation of the gums.

See a periodontist for a periodontal evaluation, and begin taking care of your oral health today. You may also want to visit the AAP’s Web site at http://www.perio.org.
Listen to Your Mouth for Health Clues

Since doctors believe many health complications can be prevented with good diabetic control, it’s important to pay attention to what your oral health is telling you. Signs and symptoms related to oral health may provide clues about the presence of diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes. Investigate your mouth and take note of some of the following clues:

Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
Red, swollen or tender gums
Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
Dry mouth



If you notice any of the clues listed above, you will want to contact your periodontist or dentist, and inform them of your symptoms. You can have periodontal diseases without any symptoms, so a periodontal evaluation is the best way to know if you have any periodontal diseases.

Proper oral hygiene is the best method to prevent periodontal diseases. Prevention includes daily flossing to break up the bacterial colonies between the teeth, proper daily brushing to prevent plaque buildup and professional cleanings at least twice a year to remove calculus from places the toothbrush and floss may have missed.

http://www.pechterperio.com/diabetes-health.htm

Bisphosphonate Therapy Can Impact Oral HealthUpdating your dental professional on changes in your medical history at eve...
07/29/2019

Bisphosphonate Therapy Can Impact Oral Health

Updating your dental professional on changes in your medical history at every dental visit may help to ensure medications you are taking such as bisphosphonates don’t interfere with your treatment results, or cause post-treatment complications.

Bisphosphonates, also known as bone-sparing drugs, are commonly used in tablet form to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Tablet form bisphosphonates are often called “oral bisphosphonates.” Other forms administered intravenously (IV) are commonly used in the management of advanced cancers that have metastasized to the bone, where the disease often causes bone pain and possibly even fractures. Some common names for oral bisphosphonates include: Fosamax, Boniva, Didrocal, and Actonel*. Common names for IV bisphosphonates include Bonefos, Zometa, and Aredia*.

In rare instances, some people being treated with intravenous bisphosphonates have developed a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This condition can be worsened by invasive dental procedures such as dental implants or tooth extractions and can cause severe, irreversible and often debiltating damage to the jaw. In the early stages of ONJ, people may not have symptoms but as the disease progresses, pain can gradually develop. The period of time between the first symptoms may be different for each person, but it typically ranges from several months to more than a year. Some of the symptoms include:

Loose teeth
Numbness or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw
Pain, swelling, or infection of the gums or jaw
Gums that are not healing
Drainage

Currently, there is not a treatment that definitely cures ONJ; however, nonsurgical treatments such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may be may help relieve pain in the short term. Most people diagnosed with ONJ usually need surgery.

If you are taking bisphosphonates and are going to be receiving periodontal surgery or other procedures, your dental professional may recommend you interrupt your bisphosphonate therapy for a period of time prior to, during, and after surgery.

There have be other risk factors associated with ONJ such as age, gender and other medical conditions, so it is important to maintain good oral hygiene and properly fill out your medical history form for your dental professional.

*Inclusion of product names in this patient education material is not intended to imply endorsement by the American Academy of Periodontology.
Filling out Your Medical History Form

Filling out your medical history form at your dental professional’s office is an important way to communicate your overall health with your dental professional. You need to be sure to include any medical conditions you currently have or are pre-disposed to having because of a family history. There are many systemic diseases associated with periodontal disease, such as diabetes and heart disease, so it will be important to alert your dental professional to these conditions, as this information will be helpful when creating a treatment plan for you.

In addition, be sure to list each medication that you are taking as well as the prescribed dosage, on your health history form. Many of the common drugs that are prescribed for day-to-day use can have serious side effects on your oral health. Some of the side effects may include:

Dry mouth
Xerostomia
Gingival enlargement
Tooth decay

Recently the use of natural products to prevent disease and manage health conditions has become more popular. Many of these natural products may have the potential to complicate periodontal treatment, so it is important to include these on your medical history form, as well. If you have any questions on whether you should include something on the form or not be sure to consult with your dental professional. Working together, you can both ensure a healthy mouth and body.

http://www.pechterperio.com/bisphosphonate-therapy-can-impact-oral-health.htm

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1280 Lantana Road
Lantana, FL
33462

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