INDUSTRY INSIGHT
DENTAL CARE
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B
y now you have probably heard, read or seen something
about the importance of oral wellness. This is due mainly to
the medical community pointing to the links between oral
health and overall systemic health. Periodontal disease or “gum
disease” is a chronic inflammatory infection caused by hundreds
of varieties of bacteria hiding below the gum line. It is the most
common infection in the world. A recent study showed that 80%
of adults over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal disease
and don’t even know it! Your mouth is a host for bacteria, which
can be controlled with good oral hygiene. But when you neglect
your teeth and gums, it’s not just your mouth that could suffer…
Recently, it has been recognized that oral infection, especially
periodontitis, is a direct causative link to a number of major
systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial
pneumonia, and diabetes, plus low birth weight. Teeth and gums
have a direct pathway to the bloodstream. When the harmful
bacteria present in gum disease travel from the oral cavity to the
bloodstream, it causes systemic inflammation all over the body.
Studies show that if you have gum disease in a moderate or
advanced stage, you’re at greater risk for heart disease than
someone with healthy gums. When these harmful oral bacteria
reach the heart, they can attach themselves to any damaged area
and cause inflammation. Other cardiovascular conditions such as
atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and stroke have also been linked
to the inflammation caused by oral bacteria. Periodontal disease
is the most common dental disease affecting those living with
diabetes. A shocking number of diagnosed diabetes patients have
gum disease. Gum disease with diabetes has a worsening effect on
glycemic control. Infection causes the release of stress hormones.
This worsens insulin resistance, causing a bigger rise in glucose
levels and making its regulation almost impossible; thus impairing
the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. The potential for
complications is a great risk to your health.
The best method, and what I recommend to all of my patients,
for maintaining oral health is—like most everything—to prevent
problems before they occur. If you have gum or any other oral
disease, there is even more reason to visit a professional. Regular
visits to the dentist and dental hygienist are a surefire way to avoid
these potentially serious infections as well as maintain your smile.
Catching the disease as early as possible reduces your chances
of risk, and many warning signs of much more serious diseases
have been detected in the oral cavity from a regular cleaning
appointment.
At my office, in addition to the intra- and extra-oral head and
neck exam, we also offer preliminary oral cancer screening with
Velscope—a handheld device that uses blue light spectrum to
detect unhealthy conditions in the mouth tissue that can’t be seen
with the naked eye. We also perform saliva tests, if necessary, that
we view under phase contrast microscopes, allowing us to pinpoint
the bad bacteria and treat those if needed.
The bottom line here is to take your oral health seriously. Your
mouth is connected to your body and needs to be taken care
of. Your dentist can help you maintain good oral hygiene, and
eliminate any harmful conditions that are not only a problem for
your teeth, but impact your overall health!
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This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Kevin Pawlowicz.
Dr. Pawlowicz practices at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental
Care on Old Freeport Road in Fox Chapel. He has trained at
the Las Vegas and Seattle Institutes and is a member of the
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
and the Academy of Laser Dentistry. You
can learn more about Dr. Pawlowicz on his
website www.foxchapeldentistry.com.
Fox Chapel Area | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 35