Periodontal Disease – Orsatti Dental in San Antonio

Sometimes I am amazed at the fact that we have patients who come to see us as they are seeking another opinion because their primary dentist have scared them into expensive treatments for the dreaded “PERIODONTONAL DISEASE”. Really this is just a fancy way of explaining gum disease. In more than a few cases treatment for this can me be very minimal if caught at an early stage. If not caught at an early stage this is something that can end up doing a lot of damage to your teeth. In some cases requiring extensive treatment. Depending on it’s stage, this is also something that can go on to effect other areas of your general health and cost you a significant amount of money if not identified early.

PREVENTING PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Periodontal disease, again also known as gum disease, is caused when bacteria in plaque (a sticky, colorless film that forms in the mouth) builds up between the gums and teeth. When the bacteria begin to grow, the gums surrounding the tooth can become inflamed. If left untreated, this inflammation can cause the gums and supporting bone structure to deteriorate, especially as you get older. This can lead to gum recession or even tooth loss. In addition, research has shown that gum disease may be associated with other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Luckily, periodontal disease can be preventable. Adding these habits to your daily routine can help.

the most obvious I know, but it has to be said. Brush your teeth. Brushing after meals helps remove food debris and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Don’t forget to include your tongue, bacteria loves to hide there. If you are at HEB or local drug store it definitely does not hurt to grab some tongue cleaners.

Floss. Another rather obvious thing to include in your daily routine. I am a fan of the single use flossing wands that are out there and you can generally get a few hundred of them for under $5. Flossing at least once a day helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth and along the gum line that your toothbrush can’t quite reach. We all know this. But it bares repeating because brushing, flossing and the next item of preventative care is a great routine to get into the habit of doing each day.

Swish with mouthwash. Using a mouthwash can help reduce plaque and can remove remaining food particles that brushing and flossing missed.

Know your risk. Age, smoking, diet and genetics can all increase your risk for periodontal disease. If you want to understand if you are at increased risk, be sure to talk to one of our trusted San Antonio dentists and they will be sure to talk to you about where you are in this regard.

Here at Orsatti Dental we want to be sure we are taking care of your overall dental health, so when yo come in for your first initail visit, or if you are already a member of the Orsatti family we will do an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) from one of our highly skilled dentists . A CPE looks at your teeth, plaque level, gums, bite, bone structure and other risk factors for periodontal, or gum disease. Identifying symptoms of gum disease early is key to protecting your teeth and gums.

GUM DISEASE AND MEN

Now gentlemen, this is for you. Periodontal health for men is extremely important as it may impact a variety of other health factors.

Research has found that periodontal disease is higher in men (56.4 percent) than in women (38.4 percent). I’m not sure if women just take better care of their teeth or what. From my experience it is because men are less likely to go to the dentist or because men have worse indicators of periodontal health than women, including higher incidence of dental plaque, tartar, and bleeding on probing. However, periodontal health just like your overall dental health for men is extremely important as it may impact a variety of other health factors. We will go into how your overall dental health effects your overall health for both men and women in another post, but for now let’s get back to periodontal disease and men.

PROSTATE HEALTH

Little known fact, periodontal disease effects prostate health. Yes, there is evidence that supports this. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme created in the prostate that is normally secreted in very small amounts. However, when the prostate becomes inflamed, infected, or affected by cancer, PSA levels rise. Research has shown that men with indicators of periodontal disease such as red, swollen or tender gums as well as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) have higher levels of PSA than men with only one of the conditions. This means that prostate health may be associated with periodontal health, and vice versa.

HEART DISEASE

Research indicates that periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are associated; having periodontal disease may actually increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Both diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions, and researchers believe that inflammation is the connection between gum disease and heart disease. Since men are already more likely to develop heart disease than women, maintaining periodontal health is another way to reduce this risk And it doesn’t stop there, guys.

IMPOTENCE

Men with periodontal disease, especially those younger adult males as well as senior adult males, are at increased risk of developing impotence, according to research. Researchers believe that inflammation may be the link between the two conditions; prolonged chronic inflammation (the same type of inflammation that is associated with periodontal disease) can damage blood vessels leading to impotence. If this isn’t a motivator to brush, floss and use mouthwash daily, I don’t know what else will motivate you. 🙂

Here are some other general concerns that a have a relation to periodontal disease.

CANCER

Here are some scary stats for you, but research has found that men with a history of gum disease are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men with healthy gums. Now that number may not be that scary but research has also found that specifically, men with periodontal disease may be 49 percent more likely than women to develop kidney cancer, 54 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancers. Serious stuff, I know but worth mentioning because we want to ensure that you are aware of all the risks associated.

PERI-IMPLANT DISEASES

Now if you have dental implants, whether from us or another dentist, hopefully you should have been made aware of possible peri-implant diseases. These are inflammatory conditions affecting the soft and hard gum tissues around dental implants. Similar to a natural tooth, bacteria can build up on the base of the implant, below the gum line. Over time, the bacteria irritate the gum tissue, causing it to become inflamed, damaging the tissue and if not caught early, causing the bone structure below the implant to deteriorate. it’s not enough to say that this can be very bad for you if you do have implants as all the healing time and money you spent could put your dental implants at risk.

Peri-implant diseases are classified into two categories.

Peri-implant mucositis

In peri-implant mucositis, gum inflammation is found only around the soft tissues of the dental implant, with no signs of bone loss. Generally peri-implant mucositis is a precursor to peri-implantitis. Evidence suggests that peri-implant mucositis may be successfully treated and is reversible if caught early.

Peri-implantitis

In peri-implantitis, gum inflammation is found around the soft tissue and there is deterioration in the bone supporting the dental implant. Peri-implantitis usually requires surgical treatment. If you are coming to your regular visits following your dental implant procedure we will make sure this doesn’t happen, but of course it is up to you to ensure you are maintaining your overall dental health by brushing, flossing and using mouthwash.

Signs of peri-implant diseases are similar to symptoms of gum disease: red or tender gums around the implants, or bleeding when brushing. And just like your natural teeth, implants require regular tooth brushing and flossing and regular check-ups from a dental professional. We cannot underscore this enough. We want to ensure that you are taking care of smile, especially with dental implants you have spent considerable time and resources to make sure your smile is the best it can be. Other risk factors for developing peri-implant disease include previous periodontal disease diagnosis, poor plaque control, smoking, and diabetes. It is essential to routinely monitor dental implants as part of a comprehensive periodontal evaluation.

The up side to dental implants and probably the reason you opted for them in the first place is they function just like your natural tooth. The down side is, they are capable of becoming diseased just like a natural tooth. With a proper oral health routine, your dental implant can last a lifetime. So please take care of them and of course, we will be with you every step of the way. As long as you continue your regular visits with us after your implant treatment, we will make sure to advise you of the proper course of action to care for your new dental implants.

GUM DISEASE AND OTHER SYSTEMIC DISEASES

OSTEOPOROSIS

Here are a few other things to think about that are associated with periodontal disease. Researchers have suggested that a link between osteoporosis and bone loss in the jaw. Studies suggest that osteoporosis may lead to tooth loss because the density of the bone that supports the teeth may be decreased, which means the teeth no longer have a solid foundation. So if you have a family history of osteoporosis, make sure you share this with your dentist. It will be one of the questions we ask you anyway, but the more you know about your family health history the more we can help with proper care and course of action.

RESPIRATORY DISEASE

Research has found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lungs to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.

So there it is. A lot of folks that come and see us don’t have the faintest idea of what severe periodontal disease can do and how it can effect your overall health. Even though prevention is very simple and should be a part of your daily routine, you would be surprised at how many people visit our San Antonio dental office who are in need of treatment for this simple and preventable disease. To be honest, in most cases it is as simple and regular maintenance and it should never get to the point to where it requires something more invasive and expensive. But there is the risk of this happening if you neglect your overall dental health.

Personally, I hope you have gotten a lot of value from these (not so short) posts. We see it as an opportunity to interact with you on a few different topics that are either easily treatable or specific treatments that we get asked about routinely. If there are any specific dental related areas of information that you would like for either myself, or Dr. Matt write on, please come by our office for a visit or send us a message either on Facebook, Instagram or here on our website. Orsatti Dental is here to serve you, the San Antonio community and your voice matters to us. To us, being a dentist in San Antonio is about so much more than making an appointment and charging people for dental services. We know you expect more. We want to make sure we have a dialogue and relationship with our patients. As I’ve said so many times, you are not just patients to us. We will take care of you like you are our family. So no matter if it is at an event, or if you come into our office for a routine visit, our first and only priority will always be to take care of all of you, not just your teeth.