The NobleDentist Blog

Dr Maurice Wolecki of Manchester Unity Dental Centre is becoming a participating dentist.

This should take place by Friday, 29 February 2008. Contact details will be in Dentists Melbourne.

Dr Maurice Wolecki is located at Suite 409, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars off dental fees click on dental.

Dr David Potter of Dr David Potter’s Dental Surgery is becoming a participating dentist.

This should take place by Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Contact details will be in Dentists Adelaide.

Dr David Potter is located at Shop 3, 501 Lower North East Road, Felixstow, South Australia.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars off dental fees click on dental.

Dr Krishanti Mahadevan of Happy Smile Dental Clinic is becoming a participating dentist.

This should take place by Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Contact details will be in Dentists Melbourne.

Dr Krishanti Mahadevan is located at 653 Stud Road, Scoresby, Victoria.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars off dental fees click on dental.

This is an article by Sarah Baldauf that appeared recently in US News & World Report.

Derita Malcom had a recent revelation—one profound enough that her two adolescent kids hear about it every night. “I preach: ‘Take care of your teeth,’” she explains. Removing her upper denture before bed, Malcom, 49, tells her kids, “Look at mama’s teeth” and the damage caused by gum disease. “I had such a fear of the dentist that I really neglected my mouth,” says the elementary school secretary from Chesterfield, Va. The consequences are not limited to her mouth.

“Take care of your teeth,” Derita Malcom (right) tells her children. She sits with husband Lamar and kids Arick and Marla.

Malcom’s diabetes may have been harder to manage because of her long neglect of oral health. Before she underwent a series of dental procedures last year, Malcom’s A1c level, which reflects blood sugar control, was far above the safe range. Now, since she has a new dedication to home care and is nearing the end of her dental work, Malcom’s sugars are closer to normal. “I didn’t make the connection that it could improve my diabetes,” she says. She’s not alone.

Three in four American adults have at least mild periodontal (gum) disease, or gingivitis. More severe disease, or chronic periodontitis, may affect as many as 30 percent. Regardless of severity, gum problems can be quite stealthy; pain is minimal and bleeding or reddened gums may be the only sign. Yet disregarding oral health could have serious overall repercussions. Recent research suggests that uncorrected gum issues make blood sugar more difficult for diabetics to control. Diabetes, in turn, can cause or worsen gum disease. “It’s a two-way street,” says Susan Karabin, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, but gum disease involves chronic inflammation—which can trigger insulin resistance, a hallmark of diabetes—and also bacterial infection. “Periodontal disease creates the wound that allows [oral bacteria] to gain access to the rest of the body,” explains Steven Offenbacher, director of the Center for Oral & Systemic Diseases at the University of North Carolina.

People with gum disease may also be more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or thickening of the arteries. Again, the culprits may be inflammation, a major factor in cardiovascular disease, and chronic low-level infection. Oral bacteria have been found in arterial plaque and can induce a process that leads to blood clots.

The flip side, says Karabin, is that “a healthy mouth means a healthy body.” Research published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that blood vessel function improved significantly in patients given intensive treatment for severe periodontitis, compared with those who had only basic plaque removal and polishing.

Cliff Sloan is quite literally taking such findings to heart. After the Chevy Chase, Md., resident had a heart attack eight years ago, his internist prescribed medication, maintenance of healthy habits—Sloan, now 50, was already a runner with a healthy diet—and an aggressive approach to oral health, including treatment for receding gums. Since then, Sloan, the publisher of the Web magazine Slate, has alternated every three months between visits to his regular dentist and intensive cleanings by a periodontist, or gum disease specialist. “The stakes are just too high” to ignore the apparent connection, says Sloan.

Chronic disease is not the only state that warrants extra attention to oral health. Infection control is critical to surgical patients, for example, and a dentist’s or periodontist’s sign-off is not infrequently required before patients proceed to the or, especially for heart or orthopedic procedures. Hormonal and developmental changes, too, can boost a person’s risk of oral problems. Adolescents often have gingivitis due to a combination of raging hormones, orthodontia, and lax oral hygiene. Add an unhealthful habit—a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association this month found an increase in gum disease in young adults who were heavy users of marijuana—and the odds of oral health problems worsen still.

Those at risk. Getting on in years also ups the ante. A shift in hormones puts post-menopausal women at risk of osteoporosis, which may raise the chances of developing periodontal disease. Entering menopause with pre-existing gum disease may speed the destruction of jawbone, making implants and other repairs more challenging. Old age may bring arthritis and lessened dexterity with floss and toothbrush. But losing teeth is no longer a foregone conclusion, says Richard Price, spokesman for the American Dental Association, though visits to the dentist most likely need to increase. Transportation an issue? “Some dentists make house calls,” he adds. Contact the local dental society.

This is an article that was recently published in livenews.com.au – Sydney, Australia.

Thousands of children under five had teeth pulled or had fillings last year, as dentists warn not drinking tap water could be behind the high numbers.

Official health department figures show nearly 800 youngsters had such severe problems with their teeth they needed root canal therapy.

Professor Hans Zoellner from the Association for the Promotion of Oral Health says children aren’t getting enough fluoride.

“Most dental disease is entirely preventable and I think it’s clearly the case that inadequate fluoridation – especially in country areas as well as across the rest of Australia… is contributing to this very high rate of dental disease.”

Much of Australia’s water in regional areas remains unflouridated.

This is an article that appeared recently in wsoctv.com – Eyewitness News.

Periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic infection of the tissues that support the teeth. Bacteria in the mouth form a sticky film, called plaque, which adheres to the teeth. If the plaque is allowed to build, it hardens into a substance, called tartar, or calculus. The bacteria feed on sugars in foods and produce acids that damage the teeth and gums.

The gums are normally a healthy, pink color. In the early stages of periodontal disease (known as gingivitis), the gums become irritated, red and tender. They may appear swollen and bleed easily. Eventually, the infection spreads down the tooth into the gum line, forming a pocket between the teeth and the gums. The depth of the pocket reflects the severity of the disease. In more advanced stages, the tissues, ligaments and bone holding the teeth become damaged and weakened. The affected teeth may become loose or fall out.

The Academy of General Dentistry estimates 75 percent of Americans develop gum disease at some point in their lives. The condition causes about 70 percent of all cases of tooth loss in adults. Risk factors for periodontal disease include: poorly fitting dental appliances, crooked teeth, family history of gum disease, smoking, diabetes, stress, use of certain medications and, in females, hormonal changes.

Gum Disease and Overall Health

Researchers have learned that gum disease sometimes goes hand-in-hand with other kinds of health problems, like atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The exact relationship between oral health and overall health isn’t known. However, some experts believe the inflammation associated with gum disease may be a reflection of inflammation elsewhere in the body.

In many cases, patients with periodontal disease may be unaware they have underlying medical conditions that could seriously affect their health. Ron Schefdore, D.M.D., is a dentist who’s teaching his clients about the oral health/body health connection. He says bleeding gums can be associated with high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels or C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein produced by the body in response to inflammation.

Patients with gingivitis and periodontal disease are offered a blood test which uses a single finger prick and three drops of blood to measure cholesterol, blood sugar and C-reactive protein. If the tests show high levels of any of the markers, dental patients are urged to see their family physician for a follow-up evaluation. In some cases, the blood tests may be the only warning sign of an undiagnosed medical problem.

Schefdore also uses a very intensive treatment program for patients with gum disease. He recommends a rotary toothbrush be used twice – first with toothpaste, then a second time using a special periodontal mouthwash to kill the gum disease bacteria. He also recommends dental picks and anti-inflammatory nutrition supplements. Schefdore says patients who follow the regimen tend to see a significant reduction in levels of CRP, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Aggressive treatment appears to have some overall health benefits. A study published last year found improvements in blood vessel function after six months of intensive periodontal treatment.

Blood screening is not offered by many dentists. However, Schefdore would like the tests to one day be offered as a part of standard dental care.

For information on blood tests in the dental office:
http://www.healthyheartdentistry.com

This is an article that was published recently on WJBF-TV – Augusta,GA,USA.

A trip to the dentist probably doesn’t top your “fun things to-do list, but ignoring the top signs of tooth trouble can cost you.

The Chicago Dental Society recently listed these top five signs that it’s time to see a dentist: bleeding gums, sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet food and drinks, chronic bad breath, puffy, red or receding gums and dark spots or holes in your teeth.

“Everything should be checked out and sometimes the warning signs aren’t as obvious as they could be. So people let things go when they shouldn’t always,” says Dr. Trucia Drummond.

Neglecting your teeth is the worst, but even good at-home dental care isn’t enough.

Seeing the dentist regularly for check-ups can catch problems when they’re small and will likely help you avoid larger, more costly and time-consuming treatments.