Dentistry Billings MT – Page 2 – Periodontal Specialist of Montana

Jun 27 37

Do you have an indentation in your gums after a loss of a tooth?

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Did you know that tooth loss can cause an indentation in the gums and jawbone where a tooth used to be. The reason that this occurs is because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place. The indention is not only unnatural looking, but it also requires that the tooth be replaced with an implant, so that you don’t have further dental issues down the road from the loss of your tooth.

Loss of Tooth

Ridge augmentation can fill in this defect recapturing the natural contour of the gums and jaw. A new tooth (implant) can then be places that is natural looking, easy to clean and beautiful. (AAP)

For all of your tooth loss needs and for all of your dental needs, contact Healthy Gums Montana today!

Jun 06 12

Periodontal Disease Is Linked to Diabetes and Heart Disease

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Did you know that Periodontal Disease is more than bacteria in your mouth? It’s true, but we don’t often think of periodontal disease when it comes to Diabetes and Heart Disease. Inflammation within the body is responsible for both oral disease and other systemic bodily diseases, which means that it is vital to your health to treat the inflammation from periodontal disease as well as inflammation from other diseases. Here are a few reasons that periodontal disease can occur if you have one of these diseases.

Diabetes

Periodontal disease is common in diabetics. The cause of periodontal disease in diabetics is the bodies inability to fight infection. If you have diabetes, you are at greater risk for Periodontal Disease. In order to manage periodontal disease, it is recommended that you manage your diabetes well. On the flip side, if you don’t manage your periodontal disease, it may be more difficult for you to control your blood sugars.

Heart Disease

Periodontal Disease is also common in people who have Heart Disease. If you don’t treat your gum disease, then it could increase your risk for heart disease, it’s that simple. If you have heart disease and you’re not treating your gum disease, then it can exacerbate your existing heart conditions.

Arthritis

In many ways, periodontitis and arthritis are very similar diseases. Recent research is now indicates that periodontal disease may be a trigger for causing arthritis to attack other joints. If you have family history of arthritis it is important to begin screenings for periodontal disease in your 30’s.

Other bodily conditions associated with Periodontal Disease

Open angle glaucoma has recently been associated with periodontal disease. The bacteria that cause bone loss also cause the blood vessels on the eye to malfunction contributing to this sight robbing condition.

Osteoporosis is linked with a loss of bone in the jaw, which causes problems in your mouth. You can lose your teeth due to osteoporosis because of bone loss; the foundation of all of the teeth in your mouth.

There are some respiratory diseases are linked to gum disease, because often bacteria in the mouth is inhaled into the lungs. Which would make you put you at greater risk for pneumonia.

If you think that you might have periodontal disease, schedule an appointment today with your Periodontal Specialist. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Apr 28 8

True Regeneration™ World’s First FDA Clearance for Tissue Regeneration

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PR Newswire, CERRITOS, CA, March 30, 2016
This world’s first FDA clearance for tissue regeneration is groundbreaking in that Millennium Dental has demonstrated that tissues lost to disease can be fully regenerated, including return to functional health. www.TrueRegeneration.com

The pathway of tissue regeneration researched and cleared was tissues lost and destroyed as a result of infectious, inflammatory periodontal disease. This suggests there may be other pathways to tissue regeneration in the body that could now be investigated.

Key Facts

First FDA clearance of functional tissue regeneration as a result of a protocol and device
True Regeneration^™ of periodontal tissue lost to gum disease – new alveolar bone, new cementum, new periodontal ligament
85% of U.S. adults have some level of gum disease (periodontal disease)
50% of U.S. adults have moderate to severe gum disease. Of this group, 40% don’t know they have the disease, and only 3% accept traditional treatment.
True Regeneration^™ only achievable with the LANAP^® protocol
LANAP protocol = LAR (laser assisted regeneration)

“Our preliminary understanding is that we are able to stimulate and activate stem cells, in particular fibroblasts, to form the necessary cellular components that turn into regenerated tissues. This is the first example of functional regeneration as a result of a protocol and device, where regeneration would otherwise not occur,” states Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, co-founder of MDT, Inventor of the LANAP^® protocol, co-developer of the PerioLase^® MVP-7^™. “If we can regenerate tissues destroyed by infection and inflammation in a cesspool of saliva and bacteria, the implications for what else could be regenerated elsewhere in the body are worth investigation.” The PerioLase^® MVP-7^™ received regulatory clearance using the LANAP^®/ LAR^™ protocol for:“Periodontal regeneration – true regeneration of the attachment apparatus (new cementum, new periodontal ligament, and new alveolar bone) on a previously diseased root surface when used specifically in the LANAP^® protocol.”
(FDA 510(k)-151763).

True Regeneration returns function to diseased areas naturally
Repair, for example, is not regeneration. Regeneration is return to normal architecture and functional health; repair is not. True Regeneration^™ can be obtained despite the presence of periodontal disease – one of the most stubborn, persistent, and widespread infectious diseases according to the Surgeon General and the CDC 2010 NHANES report in the Journal of Dental Research on the prevalence of periodontal disease. (J Dent Res 89(11):1208-1213, 2010).

The LANAP/LAR procedures with the PerioLase MVP-7 achieve these results with:

No biologics
No growth factors
No exogenous bone grafts
No foreign membranes
No scaffolding
No stitches

MDT has trained 2,000 credentialed LANAP regenerative specialists that include general practitioners and periodontists alike. LANAP regenerative specialists are found in every U.S. state and major metropolis, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

Quotes
Dawn M. Gregg, DDS, Director of Training for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, states, “This new FDA indication for use changes the meaning of ‘return to periodontal health.’ No longer is return to periodontal health defined by filling holes or cutting away tissue. The FDA clearance reflects what we understood from two human histological studies – the LANAP protocol produces both periodontal tissue regeneration and function to previously diseased tissues.”

Andrew Sullivan, DDS, Chair of Periodontics at Rutgers, says, “As Chair of the Periodontics Department of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, I was delighted to learn Millennium has received acknowledgement from the FDA that LANAP can achieve the “Gold Standard” in periodontal therapy – true periodontal regeneration. Rutgers periodontal residents are trained in the most advanced techniques, including the LANAP protocol.”

ABOUT MILLENNIUM DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.: Headquartered in Cerritos, Calif., Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., is the developer of the LANAP^® protocol for the regeneration of periodontal tissues destroyed by gum disease, and the manufacturer of the PerioLase^® MVP-7^™, the world’s first pulsed Nd:YAG digital dental laser. By providing a patient and doctor friendly experience with virtually no pain, bleeding, or post-procedure infection, MDT’s FDA-cleared and patented LANAP^® / LAR^™ protocol removes the fear from gum disease treatment, offering a vastly less painful and less invasive, full-mouth regenerative treatment alternative to conventional scalpel/suture flap surgery. The PerioLase^® MVP-7^™ is a 6-watt, free-running, variable-pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser featuring digital technology and 7 pulse durations in the 1064 nanometer wavelength, giving it the power and versatility to perform a wide range of soft- and hard-tissue laser procedures. The PerioLase^® MVP-7^™ is also developed for the LAPIP^™ protocol, for the treatment of ailing and failing implants. Established in 1994, the company’s founding clinician, Robert H. Gregg II DDS, and wife Dawn M. Gregg DDS, continue to operate the company with the founding vision: “The Patient Comes First.” For more information, visit www.lanap.com.

CONTACT:
Rachel Moody
Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc.
(562) 860-2908
rmoody@lanap.com

Feb 16 22

The Wide-Ranging Role of the Microbiome: “We Are What We Eat”

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It is well known that the gut serves as the largest immune system in the body. Recent research, however, has extended our understanding to the

links between the immune system and the host microbiome, as well as the subsequent effect this may have on a broader range of disease activities. The focus of this paper is on how exactly existing diet and potential modifications to it may influence these effects.

The Real Risk of Artificial Sweeteners

While many understand the role of excess sugar increasing the risk for diabetes, it will come as a surprise to most that so do artificial sweeteners. Experiments with both mice and people indicate that artificial sweeteners can actually induce glucose intolerance (a pre-diabetic state) via alterations in the gut microbiome. The bacteria that are responsible are the same group that causes periodontal disease.

Asthma and Allergies

In the past several decades, there has been a dramatic increase in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and allergies. The association between asthma and the immune cell regulation by the microbiome is particularly striking.

The Western diet leads to an altered microbiome that increases symptoms of Asthma and the frequency of allergies. Again bacterial digestion of certain fibers produce compounds that turn down immune system stimulation and helps prevent problems with “leaky gut”.

The diseases mentioned here are very commonly treated with medications; in most cases powerful medications. Given this new information we need to also start considering diet as a potential adjunctive, if not primary, treatment for many of these diseases. Our drugs are minimally effective if we keep feeding the problem with inappropriate diets.

Excerpted from Medscape 10/15/15

Original article by David A Johnson, MD

Professor of Medicine, Chief Gastroenterology

Eastern Virginia Medical School, Nofolk VA

Jan 06 130

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

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The goal of dentistry is to help patients care for and maintain their teeth. Compared to previous generations we have made great strides in this regard. Adults today have only a fraction of the restorations and missing teeth of previous generations. Yet despite our best efforts teeth can still be lost to trauma, wear & tear, the slow onslaught of chronic disease and poor anatomy. Ultimately most of us will have to deal with replacing some missing teeth in our lifetime. The options to replace teeth are removable restorations, restorations attached to natural teeth, and dental implants.

Over the last 20 years, dental implants have moved to the mainstream of dental treatment. Yet many patients are unsure about the advantages of implants over other restorations. When having to decide between options for replacing missing teeth, patients have to weigh the risks and benefits of each. While each individual situation must be judged on the specifics, below is a list of advantages implant provide that apply to most people.

Better nutrition:
In our appearance centered culture we often overlook the obvious. The primary function of teeth is to help you extract nutrition from the food you eat. Dentures can restore only 20% of chewing efficiency. Simply put, sliding dentures make chewing difficult. Consequently denture patients select foods that are softer that tend to be low in fiber and high in sugar & salt. Dental implants function like your own teeth. They can restore up to 80% of the chewing efficiency of natural teeth allowing you to eat your favorite foods and have a healthier diet.

Improved appearance.
When teeth are lost, bone support for the lower face is lost as well. This loss of support is what gives people a “denture look” when they lose their teeth. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. Dental implant restorations can be design to recreate the support for the soft tissues lost with tooth extraction. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.

Improved speech& comfort.
With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Implants fuse to the bone and become part of you. Because they are fixed in place, implants eliminate the discomfort of loose removable dentures allowing you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.

Improved oral health.
In addition to providing artificial surfaces upon which bacterial can grow, dentures cover the soft tissue of the mouth preventing the normal flushing of bacteria and yeast organisms. The increases in these microorganisms can lead to inflammation in the soft tissues. Further the physical irritation of the denture rubbing on the soft tissue can produce acute ulcers. In rare cases this chronic irritation can contribute to the development of oral cancer.

Maintenance of your natural teeth.
Any time dental work is done on a tooth there is a risk of complications. Dental implants don’t require grinding down other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. More of your natural teeth are left unaltered, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.

Convenience.
Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants can eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the longest lasting dental restorative treatment available. Success rates vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed. Depending on location, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care (see previous posts), implants can last a lifetime.

Nov 16 5

Dental Implants

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Dental implants have been a boon to many patients. Not only do implants provide options to avoid loose and poorly fitting dentures, they can be used to provide crowns and bridges avoiding placing at risk the natural teeth that traditionally have been used to secure fixed dental work. Implants have truly revolutionized modern dentistry.

With all the good news about implants it is easy to overlook the few but important problems that can arise with this type of treatment. Implants can experience bone loss. This can happen for several reasons. First is inadequate home care. Although implants cannot decay they still must be cleaned daily to the best of your ability. Bacterial accumulation around the base of the implant where it meets the gum tissue will cause inflammation and if left long enough can induce bone destruction. Therefore it is essential that you clean the implants daily. Each implant and restoration is unique so there is no cookbook approach to what works best. Certainly brushing is essential. Automated brushes can be more effective in some case but are not usually mandatory. Using some thicker forms of floss that can frame out and adapt to the implant surface. Some patients find that a thin yarn works very well.

Regardless of your efforts some bacterial will work into places your homecare cannot reach. Professional cleanings on a regular basis will be needed to address this problem and maintain health tissue around your implant. The frequency of such cleanings will be based on you previous history of periodontal disease problems. If you have a history of periodontal bone loss you need to be seen on a more frequent basis. If you have active periodontal disease on your natural teeth it is essentially guaranteed that your implants will lose bone as well.

Other health issues can affect the survival of your implants. First among these is smoking and other uses of tobacco. Tobacco use shortens the life of dental implants. Ideally you should quit before beginning the treatment process. If you have implants and are currently smoking quit or at the very least reduce your frequency of smoking dramatically. While you still with have the systemic smoking risks the topical effect on the gum tissue will be lessened.

Poor management of systemic diseases, particularly diabetes, can make bone loss more likely around your implants. High blood sugar depresses your immune system function allowing more aggressive bacterial to grow around your implants. Following your doctors recommendations to keep blood sugars under control will help limit any damage.

Excessive bite forces can induce bone loss around implants. Unlike natural teeth, implants do not move, they are fixed into the jawbone. Great care is taken during the construction of your dental restorations to minimize the risk of too much force being placed on the implants. However as time goes forwards your teeth can shift and wear, you may have other restorations placed the shift the bite slightly and in younger patients some delay facial growth can result in the implants coming und increasing bite forces. This happens slowly so it is not very noticeable to you. After a certain point the increased forces can begin to cause small fractures in the bone where it meets the implant. If not dealt with early this bone loss is progressive and can result in the loss of the implant.

To minimize these problems the bite on the implant should be checked at least once a year. It must be checked any time you have other dental work done.

Even with the best care, some problems may be unavoidable. We are just now reaching a time where a significant number of implants are in the range of 20+ years old. Most of these implants have reached this age with minimal problems. It does appear however that due to long term bone turnover some implants develop gum tissue problem for no apparent reason other than they have been in service for a long time. Fortunately most of these problems can be dealt with and rarely do they cause the implant to fail.

Checklists for implant care:

1) Avoidance. Be sure to check with your dentist that you do not have active periodontal disease before beginning implant treatment.

2) Quit smoking and other uses of tobacco. Keep other systemic disease such as diabetes well managed.

3) Once your implants are restored have your dentist check the bite, several times if needed, to assure the implant is not overloaded.

4) Be sure to do your best to clean your implants daily.

5) Remain faithful with your professional cleaning visits.

6) Ask to have the bite checked anytime you have new dental restorations placed.

7) If you have problems with your implants deal with it early. Small problems are easier and less expensive to fix.

Dental implants have been truly revolutionary. Yet no treatment is a panacea. Each therapy option brings with it a unique set of risks that if ignored can endanger the long-term success of your implants. Taking these simple steps can go a long was to assuring the comfortable functions of your implants for many years.

Oct 13 65

Procedure Focused versus Problem Focused Dentistry

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The first decision you must make is what dentist you are going to see. While individual practitioners have their specific approach to treatment, the fundamental issue for you is the choice between the Procedure Focused practices versus a Problem Focused office. Procedure focused offices tend to look at individual tooth problems, i.e drill and fill. You have pain from a particular tooth, the dentist treats that particular issue with minimal regard for other issues you may be unaware of. For many people the course of dental diseases is protracted over many years. This fact allows you to get away with a procedure focus for a while. However, this approach will often lead to more work needing to be redone in the future.

Problem focused practices (sometimes called Holistic practices) take into account the overall dental and medical conditions as well as potential future dental problems as part of making treatment decisions for the immediate concerns. This approach emphasizes the treatment and control of dental disease and the overall function of the dentition. Such an approach tends to address more than your immediate perceived problems but leads to more predictable restorations and avoidance of large-scale failures. Such practices emphasize a long term Doctor/Patient relationship compared to the episodic relationship of Procedure Focused practices based on emergent dental problems. This approach focus’ on the establishment and maintenance of dental health.

Is one approach better?
That depends on many factors. If your needs are minimal, procedure focused practices are very efficient in treating the few isolated concerns you may have. However in the early stages, most dental disease has minimal symptoms so patients are usually in a bad position to assess their needs. Waiting for symptoms such as pain and swelling means problems have progressed much further than they should have and treatment will be far more complicated.

Patients with several different dental problems tend to do better with Problem Focused practitioners. In this setting finding treatment solutions that achieve a harmony in addressing the multiple concerns is best. As we get older the complications from the accumulation of multiple past dental procedures tends to magnify. In adults the need to view cases in the entirety is essential to achieve the highest levels of success.

By their very nature, some dental specialties are more procedure oriented. Orthodontists, Oral Surgeons and Endodontists are specialty-trained dentists that are seen only when specific procedures are needed. Once the specific treatment is completed you return full time to your general dentist to continue care. Periodontists, Pedodontists, Prosthodontists tend to have longer-term relationships with their patients due to nature of the problems they deal with. You may still see your general dentist as part of your care as well.

Oct 04 46

What exactly are teeth?

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Sounds like a stupid question right? Nobody asks that question about hearts and livers. However few of us are really acquainted with this part of our bodies. This is in-part because the dental or stomatognathic system works well with few disruptions for most of our lives. This reliability also leads to the cultural view of what happens when the system goes on the fritz. Dental pain is one of the most debilitating pains a human being can experience. Prior to modern times, tooth pain had been represented in poems stories, art, and sculpture. We do not see the same for hip or knee pain.

Lets get acquainted
Teeth are one of the most amazing parts of the human body. They are composed of 3 specific hard tissues, Enamel, dentin and cementum. These occur nowhere else in the body. Dentin and cementum are related to bone but have a higher proportion of hard stuff (calcium and phosphorus) compared to bone. Enamel on the other hand is nearly pure mineral. So much so that for years nobody could figure out how it actually was made. Recently it has been shown that enamel is actually the original Nano-tech material. Once again millennia ago biology figured out how to do something that we humans are just beginning to understand.

Teeth are constructed similar to the windshield on your car and much for the same purpose: to limit breakage. Enamel is very hard second only to diamond. The problem with hard things is they tend to be brittle. If teeth were made only of enamel they would shatter. The dentin is the plastic layer, which can absorb the impact from biting, protecting the enamel from breakage. Enamel and dentin when formed correctly are capable of providing a lifetime of function.’

In order to function, teeth have to be attached to the jawbone. Teeth are not fused to the bone. They sit in a ligamentous joint that acts as a shock absorber. These ligaments insert into a specialized layer of the jawbone called the cribiform plate or bundle bone. This bone only forms in response to tooth development. This structure including the root, ligaments and bone that supports the teeth is referred to as the periodontal ligament or PDL for short.

Dentin and enamel, being much harder than bone, do not provide an adequate surface for ligaments from the bone to attach to the root: enter cementum. This third hard tissue is a layer of bone like tissue fused to the dentin of the root that provides attachment for the periodontal ligaments that attach to the bone. Teeth are not fused to the bone. They sit in a ligamentous joint that acts as a shock absorber. These ligaments insert into a specialized layer of the jawbone called the cribiform plate or bundle bone. This bone only forms in response to tooth development. This structure including the root, ligaments and bone that supports the teeth is referred to as the periodontal ligament or PDL for short.

The pulp:
Our lives may have been easier if dental pulp tissue did not exist. Dental pulp, also called the dental nerve is actually a neurovascular bundle consisting of and arteriole, vein and nerve tissue. This structure is left over from tooth development. This tissue supplies blood to the cells responsible for supplying nutrients and oxygen to the cells that produce the dentin. This process continues at a slow rate throughout our lives. The dental nerve actually serve a purpose in that it helps us sense how hard we are biting. This is one of the reasons why teeth lacking a living nerve are more likely to break.

The downside of having this nerve tissue inside teeth is pain. Unfortunately the only type of nerve receptor in the pulp are for pain. Not only are they pain nerves but they are slow reacting fibers. This means that it takes a lot of stimulation to get them to send messages but once they start they keep going which is the aspect that lends the special character to dental pain.

The Jaw bones
The jaw bones and other facial bones as well differ form the rest of the bones in the body.

Dec 08 78

The Diseases: Decay, Occlusion/TMJ and Periodontal disease

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First a definition:
Disease: disease is a particular abnormal condition, a disorder of a structure or function that affects part or all of an organism. It may be caused by factors originally from an external source, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune diseases. Diseases usually affect people not only physically, but also emotionally, as contracting and living with a disease can alter one’s perspective on life, and one’s personality.

In our every day lives we do not often consider dental disease to be the same as Medical diseases. This is false. In fact dental diseases are the most common diseases that affect people.

Decay
Dental decay or caries (caries is Latin for “rottenness), also known as cavities, is a breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria that live on and around the teeth. In a sense, teeth are essentially a form of limestone. If you have ever put an acid like vinegar or lemon juice on limestone the solution will bubble and fize. This action is the result of the acids eating away the calcium/phosphate structure of the rock. The same happens to teeth.

Where do acids come from?
Regarding decay, the acids come from the bacteria in the mouth fermenting residual sugars left over in your mouth after you eat. This fermentation produces acids that are held close to the tooth surface. The more sugar you eat and the more frequently you eat or drink the more opportunity the bacteria have to produce acids.

They are what you eat…Not all bacteria are equal.
The bacterial in your mouth is past on to you by your parents as is most of the bacteria that live on and around you. If you routinely eat a diet that has a high amount of refined carbohydrates the bacterial will shift to include more of the most efficient fermenters, which equals more acids and higher risk for decay. If you limit simple sugars in your diet the bacteria will shift away from this group. This is one reason why two people with equally poor oral hygiene can have very different decay rates.

Dietary and stomach acids can play a role in amplifying the effects of bacterial action. Just as acids produced by bacteria, acids in foods and drink also dissolve and weaken tooth structure. Most often damage from these agents affects the smooth surfaces of teeth. Bacterial activity affects the grooves and other surfaces where bacteria can hide.

Teeth are bathed in saliva and have a coating of bacteria on them (biofilm) that continually forms, almost from the moment they are cleaned. The minerals in the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin and cementum) are constantly undergoing processes of demineralization and remineralisation. Dental caries results when the demineralization rate is faster than the remineralisation and there is net mineral loss. This happens when there is an ecologic shift within the dental biofilm, from a balanced population of micro-organisms to a population that produce acids and can survive in an acid environment.[5] This shift to a cariogenic microbiological population (one which causes caries) is driven by (eaten) sugars. So, bacteria break down the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin and cementum) by making acid from food debris or sugar on the tooth surface.[6] Simple sugars in food are these bacteria’s primary energy source and thus a diet high in simple sugar is a risk factor.[6] Risk factors include conditions that result in less saliva such as: diabetes mellitus, Sjogren’s syndrome and some medications.[6] Medications that decrease saliva production include antihistamines and antidepressants among others.[6] Caries are also associated with poverty, poor cleaning of the mouth, and receding gums resulting in exposure of the roots of the teeth.[2][7]

Prevention includes: regular cleaning of the teeth, a diet low in sugar and small amounts of fluoride.[4][6] Brushing the teeth two times per day and flossing between the teeth once a day is recommended by many.[2][6] Fluoride may be from water, salt or toothpaste among other sources.[4] Treating a mother’s dental caries may decrease the risk in her children by decreasing the numbers of certain bacteria.[6] Screening can result in earlier detection.[2] Depending on the extent of destruction, various treatments can be used to restore the tooth to proper function or the tooth may be removed.[2] There is no known method to grow back large amounts of tooth.[8] The availability of treatment is often poor in the developing world.[4] Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen may be taken for pain.[2]

Worldwide, approximately 2.43 billion people (36% of the population) have dental caries in their permanent teeth.[9] The World Health Organizations estimates that nearly all adults have dental caries at some point in time.[4] In baby teeth it affects about 620 million people or 9% of the population.[9] They have become more common in both children and adults in recent years.[10] The disease is most common in the developed world and less common in the developing world due to greater simple sugar consumption.[2]

Oct 04 57

Gum Disease

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Gum Disease is a common ailment afflicting good oral Health. The most common form of gum disease is gingivitis. The harmful effects of gingivitis are rarely felt by the person who has them, although if gingivitis remains untreated, it can lead to the much more severe periodontitis. Gingivitis can be caused by a multitude of factors such as diabetes, smoking, stress, inadequate nutrition, and even puberty. While poor oral health is a primary cause of gingivitis, it is not always the only factor. When a person is suffering from gingivitis, his gums will become red and swollen, and may even bleed from contact with foods, or a scrubbing from a toothbrush. After gingivitis is located, a professional cleaning of the teeth and gums followed by the use of an oral rinse in the home will most likely treat gingivitis.

Periodontitis is caused when plaque grows below the gum line, and the toxins from the plaque enflame the gum tissue and, eventually if left untreated, the enflamed gum tissue will separate from the teeth. Periodontitis can occur in adults and children, and it can be brought on by untreated gingivitis, or if a person is chronically unhealthy, genetically predisposed to the disease, or suffering from a systemic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease. Periodontitis has an array of treatments based upon severity that begin with non- surgical treatments and end at plastic surgery. Periodontists are trained to treat the effects of periodontal disease, and have undergone three additional years of specialized training to learn to treat it.

To help prevent Periodontal Disease, a person should perform the daily habits of good, quality oral health such as brushing ones teeth and flossing. Also, remember that a good diet helps your body to stay healthy, and areas like your mouth benefit from a good diet as much as anywhere else. Also, if you are a smoker or if you use chewing tobacco, it will give you another reason to add to the long list of reasons why you should quit. Remember, while some people may not be able to prevent Periodontal disease, many people can help to prevent the disease by simply living healthy.

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Loss of Tooth