|
|
 |
Dale Brandt, a Houston Cosmetic Dentist here at the Medical Center Dental Group in Houston Texas, recently answered some questions on how patients with diabetes can prevent periodontal disease.
How do you help diabetics prevent periodontal disease?
We tell them that the most important thing they can do is to control their blood glucose. Healthy blood glucose levels decreases the risk of tooth and gum problems. Persons who have diabetes, particularly individuals whose blood sugar is not controlled, are at a much higher risk of gum disease than nondiabetics.
If I have gum disease, will this make my diabetes worse?
Houston cosmetic dentists such as myself have observed a reciprocal relationship between the two. Just as poorly controlled diabetes can affect the health of gums, diseased gums can make it harder to control your diabetes. Once you get an infection in your gums, it will take you longer to heal.
Can diabetes threaten the teeth themselves?
Yes. If a gum infection lasts for too long, you could end up losing teeth. Much of what you eat requires good teeth for chewing. It is extremely important for all of us to preserve our teeth. Because bone surrounding teeth can be damaged by infection, any dentures that a Houston cosmetic dentist gives you may still not fit properly. Dentures simply cannot be perfect substitutes for your natural teeth.
What can I do to prevent this from happening?
The most important thing next to controlling your blood glucose is to take good, responsible care of your teeth and gums. You need to use a soft-bristle brush between the gums and the teeth in a vibrating motion. Place the rubber tip on the toothbrush between the teeth and move it in a circle.
My gums have been bleeding recently. Does this mean I have gum disease?
It is a strong indication that you might. See a dentist immediately for a full dental checkup. Our office will check you for Periodontitis, oral cancer, and tooth decay. We will also take a full set of X-rays while you are here. You should also notify your Houston cosmetic dentist if you notice other abnormal changes in your mouth, such as patches of whitish-colored skin.
How often should I have a dental checkup?
You should have a checkup at least once every 6 months. Be sure to tell your Houston cosmetic dentist that you have diabetes. Ask him or her to show demonstrate all hygiene and self-care procedures so you can stay on top of your dental health at home. This will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Why should a diabetic come to your office for a dental examination?
If you have Type I or Type II diabetes, you are more susceptible to a number of oral health problems. You will need more dental care. You also will take longer to heal, so coming to a facility such as ours that provides both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services gives you access to better technology and more options for advanced treatment, such as LANAP. Labels: dental care for diabetics, periodontal disease
A Houston Cosmetic Dentist Talks to Diabetics about Preventing Periodontal Disease
Dale Brandt, a Houston Cosmetic Dentist here at the Medical Center Dental Group in Houston Texas, recently answered some questions on how patients with diabetes can prevent periodontal disease.
How do you help diabetics prevent periodontal disease?
We tell them that the most important thing they can do is to control their blood glucose. Healthy blood glucose levels decreases the risk of tooth and gum problems. Persons who have diabetes, particularly individuals whose blood sugar is not controlled, are at a much higher risk of gum disease than nondiabetics.
If I have gum disease, will this make my diabetes worse?
Houston cosmetic dentists such as myself have observed a reciprocal relationship between the two. Just as poorly controlled diabetes can affect the health of gums, diseased gums can make it harder to control your diabetes. Once you get an infection in your gums, it will take you longer to heal.
Can diabetes threaten the teeth themselves?
Yes. If a gum infection lasts for too long, you could end up losing teeth. Much of what you eat requires good teeth for chewing. It is extremely important for all of us to preserve our teeth. Because bone surrounding teeth can be damaged by infection, any dentures that a Houston cosmetic dentist gives you may still not fit properly. Dentures simply cannot be perfect substitutes for your natural teeth.
What can I do to prevent this from happening?
The most important thing next to controlling your blood glucose is to take good, responsible care of your teeth and gums. You need to use a soft-bristle brush between the gums and the teeth in a vibrating motion. Place the rubber tip on the toothbrush between the teeth and move it in a circle.
My gums have been bleeding recently. Does this mean I have gum disease?
It is a strong indication that you might. See a dentist immediately for a full dental checkup. Our office will check you for Periodontitis, oral cancer, and tooth decay. We will also take a full set of X-rays while you are here. You should also notify your Houston cosmetic dentist if you notice other abnormal changes in your mouth, such as patches of whitish-colored skin.
How often should I have a dental checkup?
You should have a checkup at least once every 6 months. Be sure to tell your Houston cosmetic dentist that you have diabetes. Ask him or her to show demonstrate all hygiene and self-care procedures so you can stay on top of your dental health at home. This will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Why should a diabetic come to your office for a dental examination?
If you have Type I or Type II diabetes, you are more susceptible to a number of oral health problems. You will need more dental care. You also will take longer to heal, so coming to a facility such as ours that provides both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services gives you access to better technology and more options for advanced treatment, such as LANAP. Labels: dental care for diabetics, LANAP, periodontal disease, periodontal disease and diabetes
For a long time, Houston dentists have known that risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to the premature birth of infants with a low birth weight. New evidence is appearing that suggests a new risk factor – gum disease. Pregnant women with periodontal disease could be as much as seven times more likely to give birth to a baby that is born too early and too small. It is important for us to answer a few questions in regards to what causes this. At what stage does periodontal disease have this effect? Periodontal disease is long-term, chronic infection of the gums. Pregnancy will not cause periodontal disease. Most pregnant women have experienced gum disease a long time before conception. That is why it is so important to get a dental examination before getting pregnant. This is the one way to ensure that you will have a healthy baby. While pregnancy does not call Periodontitis, it can cause pregnancy gingivitis to develop. This is caused by the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy, and it can occur in women with healthy mouths. How can pregnant women reduce these risks? It is also important that every pregnant woman have her teeth cleaned at least 2 to 3 times during her term. This helps ensure the delivery of a full term, healthy baby. More research is required to confirm just how periodontal disease affects pregnancy outcomes. It appears that gum disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor. In addition to this, data indicates that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery. All infections are grounds for concern among pregnant women because they can affect the health of the baby. The Academy of Periodontology recommends that women considering pregnancy have a periodontal evaluation. What specific things does The Houston Medical Center Dental Group do for pregnant women during the course of such evaluation? We perform a comprehensive dental exam. This includes all the necessary x-rays, digital photos, oral cancer screen, periodontal screening, a head and neck exam and an evaluation for their teeth. If you discover a mild case of periodontal disease, how do you treat it?In most cases, we can treat mild cases of periodontal disease with scaling and root planning. This is done over a course of 3 to 4 appointments. The hygienist is an expert at this treatment. How do you treat a severe case of periodontal disease? We use LANAP. We have found that Laser Periodontal Therapy is far more effective than traditional periodontal surgery because it poses less risk of infection and facilitates faster healing rates. At what point do you have to involve an MD? If necessary, we will involve the MD if the patient has a severe periodontal problem while the mother is pregnant. We will also consult them before and during treatment.Labels: laser periodontal therapy, perio-preterm low birth rate, periodontal disease
Is it true mouth bacteria can cause COPD?
They do not cause it, but they can make it worse. Lung infections occur from inhaling fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets carry germs that can multiply in the lungs and cause damage. Research suggests that throat and mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract.
These germs then cause infections and worsen the condition of the lungs. People who have respiratory ailments, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), typically suffer the most.
What is COPD, then, and what causes it?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) cause persistent obstruction of the airways that interferes with normal breathing. The primary cause of this disease is believed to be long-term smoking.
Chemicals from smoke and air pollution irritate the airways to cause obstruction. Further damage to lung tissue function of the lungs can be prevented, but already damaged tissue cannot be restored. COPD, if untreated or undetected can result in irreversible damage.
Scientists believe that through the aspiration process, bacteria will cause frequent recurrences of infection in COPD patients. Studies are now underway to learn to what extent oral hygiene and periodontal disease may be associated with more frequents bouts of respiratory disease in COPD patients.
What do you do for COPD patients to help them achieve better oral hygiene?
Smokers are the primary group of patients with COPD. They are much more susceptible to perio disease, their healing rate is not as good, their chances of having successful implants is less – nothing good comes from smoking. As this group has greater needs, we generally recommend more frequent dental hygiene visits – needed to keep them healthy – and along with this goes patient education while they are here. Oral cancer screening is an important part of their care, as is biopsy or referral for cases with outright visible oral pathology present. In order to try to stay healthy, this group has greater challenges. In addition to more frequent dental visits, they need to use all the aids for good hygiene: electric toothbrushes (Sonicare is our favorite), daily dental flossing, fluoride rinses, etc.
Does your team have the means of detecting an orally-induced breathing problem and referring the patient to an MD?
Visual cancer examinations every time we see them, with a vigilant eye on the smokers, as they have much more problems than the non-smoking patient.
How does it benefit a COPD patient to see a dentist?
Early detection leads to early treatment and better chances of success with any cancer treatment.Labels: copd, periodontal disease, smoking
Houston Cosmetic Dentist Perform Perio Regeneration
Bones and gums must fit together. One could compare the ideal fit to that of a turtleneck shirt around a neck. This fit is made possible by connective, supporting tissue that binds gums to teeth.
When you have periodontal disease, the infection destroys this supporting tissue. The bone also gets destroyed, and pockets develop between the gum, the teeth, and the bones. As this condition worsens, the teeth lose their grip and begin to deteriorate themselves. Eventually they will have to be extracted.
If this has happened to you, your Houston cosmetic dentist can help you with this. A revolutionary new procedure known as LANAP can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue.
This procedure is known as Perio Regeneration, and it involves using membranes (filters), bone grafts, and tissue stimulating proteins to trigger your body’s ability to regenerate bone and tissue that has been destroyed by periodontal disease.
Your Houston Cosmetic Dentist must use a special dental laser to perform perio regeneration. This laser is known as the Periolase MVP-7, and it has revolutionized periodontal surgery much like LASIK revolutionized ophthalmology. It is the very best tool to use for removing diseased tissue and killing the disease-causing bacteria that infected the gums to begin with.
But exactly how does a laser help a cosmetic dentist remove microscopic bacteria and infected tissue? The answer lies in the patented protocol of the Periolase MVP-7 itself. The laser is very precise, and it cuts away the diseased tissue in the pocket itself. With its heat, it also kills the disease causing bacteria that thrive in hidden, hard to reach areas of the pocket, root surface and bone.
Not only do metal cutting tools do damage to healthy tissue, they simply cannot reach all of these areas as efficiently as a dental laser.
When a Houston cosmetic dentist performs this procedure, he or she puts the patient under local anesthesia. There is never any pain. Before using the laser, the cosmetic dentist will use ultrasonic scalars to remove calculus (hardened plaque) from the root surfaces of the teeth.
A bite adjustment will also be done at the end of the procedure in order to take the pressure of mobile teeth. The best part about this procedure as compared to traditional periodontal surgery there is no or little pain after the procedure.
There are many options to enhance support for your teeth and to restore your bone to a healthy level. Your dentist will discuss your best options with you.
The greatest benefit that perio regeneration offers is the elimination of existing bacteria and the regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depth and repair damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease.
After the cosmetic dentist finishes this procedure, all the patient needs to do is follow the post operative instructions completely. Also, the patient follows a liquid and soft diet in the days following the procedure.Labels: perio regeneration, periodontal disease, periodontal pocket, The PerioLase® MVP-7 Dental Laser
Bacterial plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease. However, there are other factors that can also cause gum disease, and we want you to be aware of these factors.
Tobacco
Tobacco has long been suspected to be a cause of gum disease. In fact, research is beginning to suggest that it is one of the most significant risk factors of periodontal illness.
Genetics
Researchers believe that as much as 30% of the population may have a genetic predisposition gum disease. This is because in spite of aggressive oral care, such people may be six times more likely to Periodontitis even though they are not exposed to other typical causes of gum disease. A genetic test is now available that can identify these people and help them develop a proactive self-care plan.
Pregnancy, Puberty, and Menopause
The hormonal changes brought on by puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can all cause gum disease in women. Gums will become more sensitive during these times as they react strongly to hormonal fluctuations.
Stress
As you probably already know, stress generates a number of serious conditions in human beings. One of these is periodontal disease. Stress, in general, makes it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including gum infections.
Certain Medications
Some drugs, like oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and some heart medication, can affect the health of your mouth. This is something you need to talk to your doctor, pharmacist, and dentist about.
Bruxism
Teeth grinding is another cause of gum disease. The force of grinding teeth puts excessive pressure on the supportive tissues of the teeth and speeds up the rate at which periodontal tissues are destroyed.
Diabetes and Other Systemic Diseases
Diabetes causes the risk factors of many infections to increase, including the risk of periodontal diseases. Gum infections can impair the body’s ability to process insulin, which in turn makes it more difficult to control the infection. Any disease that interferes with the body’s immune system can also worse gum conditions.
Treatment Options
A diagnosis of periodontal disease will also be accompanied by a recommended plan of treatment. The more severe the case of gum disease, the more intensive must be the treatment.
Your dentist may recommend periodontal surgery. This is normally recommended when your dentist discovers that the tissue around your teeth is too unhealthy to heal itself and requires surgery to have the disease areas removed.
There are four procedures that are used to treat periodontal disease.
• Pocket Reduction Procedures
• Regenerative Procedures
• Crown Lengthening
• Soft Tissue Grafts
One advantage of coming to our office for such treatments is our specialization in Laser Periodontal Therapy, which uses a much more precise and bio-friendly surgical laser to replace metal cutting instruments.
Labels: Gum Disease, periodontal disease
Houston smokers have felt increasingly pressed upon to quit their habits due to recent city-wide cessation laws. While many Houston smokers have complained about what they perceive to be an absurdity in disallowing smoking from places such as bars and nightclubs, some consideration needs to be given to the fact that recent studies have linked smoking to more than what was previously known about heart and lung diseases.
Tobacco use of all kinds is now showing to have definite causative links to many problems related to oral health including, but not limited to, gum recession, bone loss, and resulting tooth loss. Even smokers who smoke less than half a pack a day are three times more likely to develop gum disease than people who do not smoke at all.
This is sobering news for Houston smokers who have recently been considering giving up the habit due to the increasing unpopularity of the practice even in places that have been considered heretofore nefarious and shady.
Houston smokers need to educate themselves about some of the more unpleasant facts of periodontal disease before they assume that this is simply a case of minor irritation and occasionally bleeding gums. In reality, only a mild case of Periodontitis proves even that mild.
More severe cases, or course, are both more painful and damaging to the body as a whole.
The condition involves the chronic spread of infections bacteria that affects gum tissue, bone, and attachment fibers that hold the teeth to the jaw bone. As plaque forms on the teeth, bacteria have breeding ground multiply and move into these areas where they can cause gingivitis (inflammation and reddening of the gums) and start progressing toward moderate or even advanced Periodontitis—the type of gum disease that can destroy your mouth and even cause other conditions such as heart disease.
The Houston Medical Center Dental Group is here to help smokers move away from both the destructive causes of such horrific outcomes and move toward a brighter, healthier future. Our cosmetic dentists and dental hygienists want to help Houston smokers—not condemn them.
We offer proactive, individual dental self-care programs, thorough dental examinations, examinations and checks for possible oral cancer, and advanced Laser Periodontal Therapy for even the most severe cases of gum disease.
So whether you think you are ready to quit smoking or not, at least come see us now and let us help you better understand your current condition so you can make an informed, quality decision about yourself and your future dental health.
Labels: Gum Disease, Houston smokers, laser periodontal therapy, periodontal disease
If you experience any form of gum disease, call the Houston Medical Center Dental Group Immediately and schedule a full dental examination.
Gum disease has been connected to heart disease. This is because the bacteria that cause gum disease get into the blood and travel throughout the body. The cardiovascular system can be especially vulnerable to these bacteria, and gum disease has been proven to cause heart attacks in a number of people.
The number of bacteria in your mouth can easily total more than the number of people in the world. Even if you have no plaque or tartar, 1,000 to 100,000 can be found on any one particular tooth. Mind you, this is in a mouth with clean and healthy teeth. If you have plaque, there can be as many as 100 million to 1 billion bacteria growing on each tooth.
While some of these bacteria are good for your mouth, others are very harmful. The type of bacteria that cause gum disease not only permanently damage gum tissue, but also can damage your jaws and the connective tissues that hold your teeth to your jaws. Once connective tissue weakens, you are more likely to lose teeth.
Even worse, statistics conducted over a ten-year period determined that patients who suffer from gum disease are three times more likely to suffer a heart attack as are patients without it. Evidence strongly indicates that these infectious bacteria enter the blood through tears in gum tissue. After these bacteria reach the liver, the liver reacts by producing a protein that clogs the arteries.
Other research shows that gum disease bacteria directly attacks the heart itself by creating blockages in the arteries. This theory is strongly upheld by the discovery of oral bacteria lodged in the arteries of people who previously experienced blocked arteries and a subsequent heart attack.
People with heart valve ailments should be especially mindful and proactive in seeking out dental treatment for gum disease. Conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart defects, and heart murmurs are all very vulnerable to infection by oral bacteria.
Also, in addition to increased risk of heart attack, a rare and sometimes fatal disease known as endocarditis can be caused by S.Sanguis—the bacteria found in plaque—and cause severe damage to heart tissues and valve muscles.
If you suffer from any type of heart valve ailment, it is strongly recommended that you talk to your dentist about it before having any type of dental procedure performed. It may be necessary for your dentist to prescribe special antibiotics as a precaution against oral bacteria that could potentially be dislodged into the bloodstream and travel directly to your heart. Labels: Gum Disease, heart attacks, oral bacteria, periodontal disease, plaque
Intraoral cameras are fantastic tools used by cosmetic dentists to examine a variety of unhealthy tooth and gum conditions. These cameras are light years ahead of previous dental mirrors that were once used to examine cavities, gum disease, and dental abfraction. They provide us with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy, and they help patients make better decisions for themselves by letting them see what the dentist sees.
Before intraoral cameras were developed, people would try to diagnose themselves whenever they felt pain in their teeth or gums. This did little more than increase anxiety, because even with a bright light and a good mirror, the problems that are visible convey little meaning to people without advanced dental training. For example, if a person saw blood around his or her gums, or what appears to be a crack in his or her teeth, panic ensued. They would go straight to the dentist, who would then employ special mirrors and lights to examine the mouth closely.
The problem with this method was that it does not allow patients to see their own mouths in any amount of detail. If a dentist then recommends a procedure that may involve multiple office visits or finances people feel uncomfortable investing, patients may hesitate before authorizing treatment. There is much to be said about the old saying: seeing is believing. When people confront the unknown, they typically draw back in fear. When the unknown becomes known to them, however, they realize there is really nothing to fear. When patients can see clearly the problems in their own teeth and gums, and have the dentist patiently explain how these problems can be painlessly and cost-effectively fixed, they gain a new confidence, and they find new resources to fund their own health and well-being. If they do not, we have a number of programs that can assist patients in paying for the services we perform.
This has often proven true when we discovered that older, silver-mercury amalgam fillings in teeth are no longer working, or they have fallen out. We immediately recommend cosmetic dental bonding as a replacement for these fillings. However, many people hesitate in this economy to spend the money on this service until they see the actual holes in their teeth and the impending dangers of further decay that will inevitably result if the tooth is neglected. The intraoral camera shows them in full color and high-resolution detail a magnified, completely accurate image of the current condition of each and every tooth with a failed filling. This is normally all it takes to convince people that dental bonding is nothing to put off if a filling falls out.
The optical portion of the intraoral camera resides at the end of a very long, thin shaped and sized much like a pen. The dentist can move it anywhere in the mouth without hurting the patient. The instrument then sends a signal through a digital feed that is interpreted and displayed on large, high-resolution color monitor. Minor fractures can be magnified to great detail. Fillings that are on the verge of falling out can be closely examined. Gum disease can be examined in thorough detail, and its type and severity accurately diagnosed. What is even better about the intraoral camera is that it allows the patient to participate in this examination every step of the way.
This allows the fears of the patient to be calmed when they arise, and it also allows for all options on the table to be discussed from a more informed perspective. Strategies for making procedures comfortable and painless, along with procedures done with advanced technology such as the periodontal laser, can all be considered and explored from both a treatment perspective and the perspective of financial resources. Labels: dental bonding, dental examination, financial options, intraoral camera, payment plans, periodontal disease, tooth fillings
|
