The Oral-Systemic Connection
What Happens In Your Mouth Doesn’t Stay In Your Mouth
Nearly half of American adults that are older than the age of 30 have periodontal disease, according to recent findings from The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study also found that the prevalence of periodontitis rises to 70.1% in adults older than age 65.
The nature of periodontal disease is that toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets, between the teeth and gums, which in turn become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed.
New research indicates that, in fact, periodontal disease is a factor in many deadly systemic diseases, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
What is your risk?
Today’s clinicians are fortunate in being able to offer a wide variety of microbiological tests. Although these tests vary widely in their methods, sensitivity, specificity, speed, convenience and cost, they all provide invaluable insights into the disease process that were simply unavailable to patients only a few years ago.
"Poor oral health is a “silent X-factor” promoting the onset of life-threatening diseases which are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans each year.”
Consequences of Chronic Gum Inflammation
“Inflammation is fire. When vascular walls around the heart catch fire, we have heart attacks and strokes. Think of the body as a house, and the mouth as the kitchen — when we have gum disease, we have a “fire” in our “kitchen” that may “burn down the house.”
Gum Disease Contributes to:
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Pulmonary Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Pre-Term Births
- Low Birth Weight
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Orthopedic Implant Failure
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Cancer
Did you know that gum disease can also contribute to chronic diseases such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and even depression?
Gum disease is a proven silent menace to your health.
- Inflammation is the number one cause of death, and oral inflammation is the number one source of inflammation in humans.
- Oral inflammation plays a key role in overall inflammation and inflammatory disease.
- Dental professionals are in charge of reducing oral inflammation.
Our Commitment is to Your Total Health and Well-Being
“As the gateway of the body, the mouth senses and responds to the external world and at the same time reflects what is happening deep inside the body. Too little time is devoted to oral health and disease topics in the education of non-dental health professionals. Yet all care providers can and should contribute to enhancing oral health. Health care providers should be ready, willing, and able to work in collaboration to provide optimal health care for their patients. Having informed health care professionals will ensure that the public using the health care system will benefit from interdisciplinary services and comprehensive care”.
Emerging scientific evidence confirms that chronic, low-grade infections in the mouth elevates systemic inflammation and has an impact on all body systems.
As a Founding Member of American Academy of Oral-Systemic Health, we’re dedicated to not only treat patients, but educate them of the relationship of oral – systemic health.
Our dentists and hygienists have received extensive advanced training in the art and science of testing for and treating oral bacterial inflammation.
Our office is equipped with the latest in technology to assure you sensible treatment that works… guaranteed!
You will enjoy the resulting benefits of improved oral and general health, healing, longevity and wellness.
Who is at risk?
The answer might surprise you.
Gum disease will affect 80% of us.
Bacteria, found in the mouth, is normal and necessary. In fact, at any given time, there are thousands of bacteria circulating in our mouths, including the known bacteria that are specific to harmful diseases. The problem is when the levels of these harmful bacteria exceed the normal threshold. About 30% of people are genetically susceptible to oral bacterial infection. It is estimated that during their lifetime 80% of the U.S. population will develop gum disease and once it starts it does not usually reverse itself without specialized care. One of the myths about oral bacterial infection is that it occurs only with people who do not exercise proper oral hygiene habits. While good oral hygiene plays a significant role in reducing the likelihood of getting an oral bacterial infection, there are other factors that contribute toward developing the disease as well.
If any of these apply to you, talk to our team about testing:
- Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Family or personal history of chronic inflammatory disease (heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc.)
- Tobacco use
- Compromised immune system
- Planed surgical procedures or radiation treatment
- If you’re a woman of childbearing age
- Family history of periodontal disease
What are we testing for?
BANA Enzymatic Test
Initial test.
While being more qualitative (shades of blue) rather than quantitative, and being limited to the “Red” periodontal pathogens, this test allows us to receive an immediate indication of the levels of this bacteria present in your mouth. Based on the results further testing may be recommended.
Lp-PLA2 (via PLAC® Test)
The PLAC® Test tells us if the arteries around the heart are inflamed, which is the most important test in assessing the risk for heart attack and stroke – often more important than cholesterol testing. The PLAC® Test is cleared by the FDA to evaluate risk for both heart attack and stroke.
What you should know.
The only known factor to reduce Lp-PLA2 levels is reducing oral inflammation with periodontal treatment.
A1c (Glycated Hemoglobin Levels)
This test tells us how the patient’s blood sugar levels are being regulated. Elevated A1c typically occurs in those with diabetes and insulin resistance.
What you should know:
Periodontal disease and diabetes are directly connected. 93% of those with diabetes have periodontal disease. Research shows, that with advanced periodontal treatment, dental professionals can lower A1c levels as well as most medications, without all of the side effects. Advanced nonsurgical periodontal treatment improves glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes and, by lowering health complications, reduces your annual health-care costs by 25%.
hs-CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
This test evaluates your CRP levels. The risk for heart attack and stroke increases with elevated CRP levels, just as much as with cholesterol and HDL levels.
When there are elevated levels of hs-CRP detected, it is a sign of an infection in the body, and there’s a good chance it’s in the mouth.
What you should know:
CRP levels can be up to seven times higher in patients with periodontal disease. If you know there are high levels of CRP in your body, it’s imperative that you be evaluated and treated with advanced periodontal treatment, so the mouth does not lead to becoming a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Research and experience tells us that diabetic patients with infections have potentially life-threatening health-care complications.
Simplified, these three tests help us determine who is at risk for:
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• Other inflammatory diseases
We know what the problem is. By now, the research is obvious, but the missing component (the “secret sauce”) has always been how to put it into effect. We know how.
MyPerioPath Saliva Test:
MyPerioPath detects and quantifies 13 specific disease-causing bacteria that are associated with periodontal disease. When the quantity of pathogens rises above the normal threshold, infection and illness are either already present or likely to occur.
The mouth is where life begins. Let’s not let it end there!
Standard Medical Protocol
for treating diseases and infections.
Steps of Standard Medical Protocol
- Determine the cause.
- Treat the cause.
- Evaluate the treatment’s success/failure. Modify therapy as needed.
- Healing.
Conventional treatment methods have been shown to be ineffective in remedying the accumulation of target species.
The prevalence of the microbial pathogens negatively affects the outcome of periodontal surgery and conventional nonsurgical therapy.
We Adhere to the Standard Medical Protocol
Using your individual test results and assessment, we will design a plan of treatment for you to eradicate the detected bacteria.
Through a combination of mechanical and laser treatments; various topical antibiotics; and The Perio Protect Method, an FDA-cleared medical device, that’s capable of delivering antimicrobial agents and solutions to the affected areas.
To evaluate the progress of the treatment, we monitor the amount of bacteria before, during, and after treatment.
Our treatment addresses the causes, monitors the healing process, and has been demonstrated to be effective in all stages of the disease. Keep in mind this proven treatment can only be completely successful with a patient’s total involvement and participation.
Get in Touch with us
Phone number:
916.436.8345
Two Convenient Locations
Citrus Heights Dental
6994 Sunrise Blvd.
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
The Smile Doctor
3000 L St., STE #104
Sacramento, CA 95816
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