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What does a stubbed toe, a splinter or a mosquito bite have to do with diseases like diabetes, stroke or heart disease? More than you might think according to those scientists that investigate inflammation and its relationship to disease.
The goal of dentistry has always been to keep teeth with good comfort, function and esthetics for a lifetime for all patients. With this approach some could live a lifetime with mild to moderate periodontal disease and still keep most of their teeth. This is true since periodontal disease until its very last stages is generally not uncomfortable. Little did we know that by leaving it smoldering the inflammatory process might have been shortening patient's longevity and life span.
A study done over an 18-year period placed those with periodontal disease at two times the risk of heart attack and three times the risk of stroke.
Standards have changed as they often do in health care as new knowledge is gained. Today, with the relationship of "gum disease" to the inflammatory process and its relationship to systemic disease, informed thinkers have adopted a zero tolerance for periodontal disease and its associated pockets. It is for this reason that we will more carefully than ever assess your preventive habits and periodontal needs by customizing our recommendations to your individual risk factors. The healthier you are the less frequently we will need to see and monitor your health, but make no mistake being on the safe side of this issue is more important than ever. So important in fact, that even if some of this information may have been shared with you when you were last in that we still feel the importance of sending you this data. At some stage we will try to touch base with you through a phone call to answer any concerns you may have. Naturally, if you have urgencies feel free to call us.
Our staff has attended specific continuing education classes regarding these risks and as a precaution between comprehensive periodontal exams we will use no charge PSR (abbreviated charting of pockets) exams as a screening and monitoring method. Rest assured that our recommendations to you will be the same as we would do for ourselves based on this information and associated risks. Remember PSR exams are free but according to the American Dental Association they only function as a screening tool. As a point of reference, these PSR procedures were only created as a result of periodontal exams not regularly being done around the country as indicated. Essentially they (PSR) are better than nothing.
Feel free to pass this information on to others you may feel would benefit from it. If you have questions please ask and if you would like more detailed information, copies of research, or a description of the inflammatory mechanism let us know and we will provide for you what we have available.
The use of lasers in dentistry today, especially in early-diagnosed periodontal disease, virtually eliminates the discomfort once associated with its treatment. Many have it completed and go back to work or other normal activities the same day. Naturally, prevention is best but in today's world there is really no reason to allow periodontal disease and the associated inflammation to cause more problems than it already is known to do. In so many ways this same preventive concept makes good sense in our present economic climate. Prevention is always less expensive than the cure.
Wishing you and your family happiness, health, and prosperity
This Thanksgiving Season.
