Drs. Elam, Vaughan, and Fleming Blog » Dental Health

What is Periodontal Disease?

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:15:29 +0000

Periodontal diseases are serious infections of the mouth that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. These infectious ,and contagious, diseases have also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as preterm, low birth weight babies. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection affecting the gums and bone supporting the teeth.

Our mouths are full of bacteria. Periodontal disease begins when these bacteria form a sticky “plaque” on our teeth which can harden to form “tartar”. Brushing and flossing help to reduce these plaque accumulations, but only professional cleanings can remove tartar. Left untreated, these bacteria will cause inflammation and infection of the gums which is referred to as “gingivitis”. As the inflammation and infection spreads to the supporting ligaments and surrounding bone, “periodontitis” occurs. It is this loss of support that causes out teeth to become loose and fall out.

So what are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

Persistent breathe odor
Bright red gums
Gums that bleed easily, even with gentle brushing
Tender teeth
Teeth that are loose
Swollen gums

In treating gingivitis and periodontitis, the goal is to reduce the infection and inflammation, eliminate periodontal pockets, and address the underlying causes. The specific type of treatment varies and is determined by the extent of an individual’s disease. It may be as simple as having the teeth cleaned professionally, or it might be extensive enough to warrant surgery. Whatever the course of treatment, it is important to follow careful oral hygiene for your entire life to prevent re-occurrence.

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michaelvaughan — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:03:34 +0000

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Fight Your Genetic Fate

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You don’t need a medical degree to know that having high cholesterol, being overweight and smoking can hurt your heart. But researchers have recently found several new and surprising factors that can put your health at risk. And you need this information now: A growing number of women ages 35 to 44 are losing their lives to heart disease, and yet many physicians continue to pay less attention to risk factors in women than in men, according to recent studies. “There’s still the misperception among some doctors that heart disease isn’t a prevalent problem in women,” says Alexandra J. Lansky, M.D., an associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. What’s more, more than one third of women underestimate their vulnerability to heart disease. Here, seven factors that may be upping your risk—and how to protect yourself:

1. Your oral health

Unlikely as it may sound, several studies have found a link between heart disease and gum disease—a condition that affects at least 35 percent of American adults. One theory is that bacteria in your mouth penetrate damaged gums, enter the bloodstream, and then trigger inflammation and increases in plaque in the arteries that lead to the heart. Early signs of the disease include gum sensitivity and bleeding.

There has been little hard evidence that cleaning up your mouth cuts your heart disease risk—until now. Intensive periodontal treatment, in which the area between the gums and the teeth is deep-cleaned down to the roots (the area is numbed first!) resulted in improved function of the cells lining blood vessels throughout the body—a marker for better, healthier blood flow to the heart, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Wisdom Teeth

michaelvaughan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:15:54 +0000

How serious is an impacted tooth?

An impacted too is one that is prevented from erupting into position by overlying bone of soft tissue. Impacted teeth can be painful and lead to infection and they may crowd or damage adjacent teeth. More serious problems may occur if the tissue around the tooth enlarged and become infected, this is called a pericoronitis, and is the source of most painful wisdom teeth. Initially infection with wisdom teeth are treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin, definitive treatment requires removal. This is best done before the age of 26, when the surrounding bone is still immature.

Wisdom teeth can be extracted with local anesthetic (a shot of lidocaine) but are usually removed with IV sedation, and local anesthetic. with sedation patients don’t remember the surgery.

The ease of which a wisdom tooth is removed depends upon the position of the tooth, and root maturity, and the age of the patient.

After surgery the patient may experience slight swelling and mild discomfort. An ice pack, ibuprofen and or a pain pill will help manage the discomfort. In our office we remove impacted wisdom teeth with both IV sedation and local anesthesia depending upon the patient’s preferences.

Daily to-dos for better dental health

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:59:42 +0000

Here are five quick and easy things we all can do everyday to ensure a healthy smile.

1. Brush after each meal
2. floss – especially when eating steak or other foods that leave food between your teeth
3. avoid sugary foods, rinse well if you can’t resist
4. use an advanced mouthwash daily
5. make an appointment to get a regular professional cleaning with your dentist