Dentistry is a lot more than just beautiful smiles. Dentistry is important to your health. New research is coming out everyday about the oral systemic connection to overall health. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can increase life expectancy by 10 years or more. This is especially true for patients that are at increased risk of a heart attack, diabetes or are pregnant.
Researchers have discovered an important connection between periodontal disease and heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pre-term low birth weight babies, cancers, Alzheimer's, respiratory disease, kidney disease plus others. The link between oral health and systemic health remains very strong.
The following are the most common symptoms of periodontal diseases:
- Bleeding gums during brushing or spontaneously
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Gums that have pulled away from the teeth (recession)
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between the teeth and gums (leaving a bad taste)
- Loose or separating teeth
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change in the fit of partial dentures
You may have periodontal disease and not have any of these symptoms.
Periodontal diseases are chronic diseases, just like diabetes and high blood pressure. Without careful, ongoing treatment, diseases can often recur.
Until recently the only periodontal therapy available was deep cleaning and in more advanced cases, surgery. More recently, antibiotics were added to kill the bacteria. Such treatment made a lasting impression on those who have been through periodontal surgery. However, the periodontal disease often came back again, creating the belief that the disease can never be "cured." The good news is that with the advance of laser decontamination and laser assisted periodontal therapy (LAPT) as well as new DNA testing our understanding of the disease and ability to treat the disease has been greatly expanded. Laser assisted periodontal treatment can be accomplished painlessly, quickly, and with your cooperation, periodontal disease can be kept in remission.