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Dr Jason Burns
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Its good to be back after the Christmas break . . . I am delighted to say that Magda, my nurse, has just given birth to a beautiful baby boy called Michael. She will be back in June. Fitsum is taking an extra months maternity after the birth of her beautiful new baby and will be returning 3 days a week (Mon, Wed and Fri) in March. Patricia, has kindly agreed to stay on and cover Fitsum’s hygiene clinics until then. We have updated our web site at www.molars.biz. I hope you like the new simple layout and format. Your comments are always welcome. With the down turn in the economy, it is comforting to know that dental bills can be budgeted for. As well as offering Interest Free Credit for larger courses of treatment, we are still recommending the Tesco dental insurance (see below). I wish all my clients a prosperous, healthy and happy 2009.
No Increase in Fees Due to the economic downturn, there will be NO increase in fees for dental or hygiene treatments this year.
Tesco Dental Insurance Update Tesco policy Benefits Current Scheme as of 5th January 2009. • Up to £200 per person per policy year towards Routine examinations, hygiene treatments, periodontal treatments and dental x-rays received as a private patient.
† In the first year of cover an overall annual limit of £500 for crowns and bridges per person applies to treatment received as a private patient.
Even at the new prices and level of cover, it is still the best value dental insurance available.
Why healthy gums are so important There are other related conditions, which we are only beginning to understand and which are still being researched. These include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and the process of pregnancy and childbirth.
“Bleeding Gums Murphy” from the Simpsons- Not a good role model! Cardiovascular disease (CVD) Approximately 20 percent of the UK population have one or more types of heart disease. There have been many studies, dating back to 1987, that look at the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). One such study found that patients with recent CVD had significantly more dental infections than people without CVD. Other studies have shown a positive association between periodontal disease and CVD/stroke, as well as a positive association between CVD and tooth loss due to periodontal disease.
In another study, men with periodontal disease were found to be at greater risk for CVD than men without periodontal disease. Yet other studies found that in a Native American population, the risk of CVD increased by 168 percent among those who had periodontal disease. In other populations, the risk of stroke was found to be 2.8 times greater where periodontal disease was present. Studies are being done to determine if the treatment of periodontal disease reduces the risk of CVD. Theories about the link between CVD and periodontal disease It is clear that many studies demonstrate a link between CVD and periodontal disease, however, more research is needed to more thoroughly understand this correlation. At present, there are two prevailing theories that attempt to explain the biology of this relationship. The first theory is that there are specific oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream in people with periodontal disease and cause clots that lead to heart attack and stroke. The second theory is that the bacteria associated with periodontal disease are responsible for eliciting an inflammatory cell mediator called C-reactive protein. This mediator is known to form deposits in injured blood vessels, which, through a series of biological events, contributes to atheroma (plaque) formation. The atheroma may cause atherosclerosis, which is partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery as it grows in size. These blockages can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attacks). Respiratory disease(CVD) Periodontal disease may be a risk factor for respiratory diseases as well. Pneumonias are caused by a variety of infectious agents and can be life threatening. Inhaling bacteria that normally colonize the mouth and throat can cause bacterial pneumonia. This is especially prevalent in medically compromised individuals, such as alcoholics and diabetics, who are at a higher risk. The bacteria responsible for respiratory diseases have been found in the dental plaque of medical intensive-care patients who tend to have poor oral hygiene. It is also possible that breathing in oral bacteria can have a deleterious effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Gingivitis and pregnancy We also know that gingivitis is often exacerbated during pregnancy and is usually at its worst in the eighth month. This is most likely due to increased levels of progesterone and its affect on the body’s small blood vessels. It may also be due to hormonal changes altering tissue metabolism. As a dentist, it is quite common for me to see pregnant women complaining that their gums are bleeding significantly more than before they became pregnant. They may even arrive in my office with one or more pyogenic granulomas, otherwise known as pregnancy tumours. These are small, non cancerous, growths at the gum-line caused by inflammation. In the UK, one of every ten pregnancies results in preterm delivery (less than 37 weeks) and low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds). There is new evidence that suggests an association between periodontal infection and spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). Human studies have shown that periodontal infection can impair foetal growth, although how this happens is not completely understood. As with cardiovascular disease, this may also be caused by the release of certain biochemical mediators, such as C-reactive protein, during periodontal disease. These specific mediators are known to cause preterm delivery in humans. There is also evidence that infection may be a contributing factor to SPB. In one study, mothers of preterm low birth weight babies had significantly more periodontal disease without other risk factors compared to mothers having babies of normal birth weight. The interrelationship between periodontal disease and pregnancy reinforces the need for women to see their dentist regularly before and during pregnancy. An extremely important phase of periodontal therapy is regular dental cleanings set up in intervals, depending on your degree of periodontal disease and other health factors. Treatment of Periodontal Disease To reiterate, it is important to visit us if you are at risk for respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or you are planning to become pregnant. The treatment for periodontal disease will depend on several factors, including the severity of the disease and your overall health. We usually see an improvement in the gums as early as two to three weeks later. The extent of improvement will depend on the severity of periodontal disease and the patients motivation. Our expert team of dentists, hygienists and our visiting gum specialist Dr Rob Ratcliffe are all trained to diagnose and treat all types of gum problems to ensure you can achieve and maintain optimal gum health. |
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It was a quiet Christmas for the Burns’s as Isabella (my daughter) has got her secondary school entrance exams this month and I have tried my best to keep her away from the myriad of bugs that seem to be in circulation. Its strange, that I find it more stressful dealing with my kids exams than I did over my own!
View our website, www.molars.biz
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