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Previous What's New Articles
- April 2008 - Exercise, Nutrition, Dental Health
- September 2006 - Osteonecrosis
- August 2006 - Lasers in Dentistry
- July 2005 - Decay Prevention with Xylitol
- June 2005 - Periodontal Disease
Periodontal Disease - How Does It Happen?
Periodontal disease affects more than 75% of the adult population in some form and is a risk factor for many systemic diseases. People with periodontal infections have double the incidence of heart disease. Pregnant women with the disease are seven times more likely to have a premature delivery. Periodontal disease significantly increases the chances of stroke, respiratory infections, and may be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is important to keep this disease from advancing to a serious infection. At the dental office, our mission is to closely monitor all patients for subtle changes in their periodontal condition and to treat any infection aggressively to arrest the advancement of the disease, thereby protecting a patient’s overall health.
We believe that an understanding of the disease process on the part of the dental patient can help a great deal with prevention and can help us more successfully treat the disease. Below we have outlined the steps in the development of the disease. We have included pictures that may be a bit graphic for some people; however, we feel that they greatly increase the understanding of a complex disease process. Most people do not realize what is going on in their mouths and this is definitely an eye opener.
 Step 1: This patient has not brushed for 24 hours. Plaque buildup has been dyed pink. Bacterial plaque develops on teeth. |
 Step 2: Calculus on the root of a tooth. Calculus forms on tooth when plaque combines with minerals in saliva. |
 Step 3: Calculus can act like a splinter irritating gum tissue. |
 Step 4: At this stage, the gum tissue reddens, swells, and pulls away from the tooth, forming a pocket. The dark tissue around the tooth shows gum tissue infected by gingivitis. |
 Step 5: An infected tooth compared to a healthy tooth. In advanced periodontal infection, a web of calculus and bacteria covers the root of the tooth. |
 Step 6: If left untreated, periodontal disease will lead to bone loss of the jaw. |
How does periodontal disease act to influence the development of other more serious conditions?
We know that the bacteria from periodontal disease get into the bloodstream. The mouth is actually the portal to the body and these bacteria can act in many different ways to influence the disease process. While the exact mechanisms for their influence are unknown, there are many fascinating theories. Below are some of the possibile explanations. For more information and to access scientific articles directly, go to www.perio.org, the website for the American Academy of Periodontology.
Heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s - Periodontal bacteria may attach to fatty plaques in arteries and contribute to clot formation. The diseases listed above all have an association with plaque, with thickening walls of arteries restricting blood flow. Periodontal bacteria may also be related to inflammation, which can increase plaque buildup and lead to swelling of the arteries.
Respiratory disease Periodontal bacteria have been found in the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is believed that people can aspirate the bacteria from the mouth into the lungs, thereby contributing to the development of respiratory disease.
Premature birth It is believed that periodontal disease can cause increased levels of biological fluids that can induce labor. If a periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy, the risk is even greater.
General immunity - Although research has shown a relationship to serious disease, it is conceivable that periodontal disease can be involved in development of more ordinary everyday illnesses, and can contribute to a general feeling of fatigue. It is important to remember that periodontal disease is a low grade chronic infection, and that any time a person has an infection, he or she will be run down and more susceptible to other infections because the body’s energy is being used to fight the basic infection.