Posts Tagged ‘tooth decay’

“You have periodontal (gum) disease.”  These 4 words initially scare or confuse many people when they hear them from their hygienist or dentist.  There are many questions that might run through your mind after hearing this.  “What does this mean?”  “How is this going to affect me?”  “Am I going to loose any or all of my teeth?”  “Is gum disease something I really need to worry about?”  Gum disease is estimated to affect about 8 out of every 10 Americans with 99% of those with gum disease having no signs or symptoms that let them know they have a problem.

For most people, gum disease is something that they believe is nothing to be concerned about and they dismiss the diagnosis.  “It’s not like hearing I have heart disease, right?”  This is where what you don’t know might surprise you.  Your mouth is a window to your body.  More than 90% of all systemic diseases have signs that we can see in the mouth! Recently, studies have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease.  Many people do not realize that risk factors associated with serious health concerns such as heart disease and stroke have been associated with gum disease.  Each year, heart disease kills more Americans than cancer and when we hear this diagnosis we take it very seriously and follow through with the physician’s recommendations to lower our risks and manage the disease.

Most people are aware that lifestyle choices such as eating right, getting enough exercise and quitting smoking can help prevent heart disease.  What most people don’t know is that you have 2 very powerful, easy to use weapons at your disposal to help combat your risk of heart disease – your toothbrush and your dental team!  It is important to understand that simple activities like brushing and flossing twice a day, and regular visits to your dental professional can help lower your risk of gum disease and, in turn, other health conditions, including heart disease and stroke.

In 2009, the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology published recommendations for dentists and cardiologist that focus on the importance of working together to manage these 2 diseases because they are linked.  These recommendations are:

1.      patients with gum disease should be made aware that they ARE at increased risk for heart disease

2.      patients with gum disease and 1 major risk factor for heart disease, such as smoking, family history of heart disease, or high cholesterol, should see there doctor if they haven’t done so in the past 12 months.

3.      patients with gum disease who have 2 or more known major risk factors for heart disease should be referred to see their physician for a medical evaluation.

At our practice, total wellness is our goal.  Along with our highly skilled dental team, we are pleased to offer specialized technology that will assess your individual risks of gum disease with easy to understand Oral Health Scores. Your individual Oral Health Scores are just like your cholesterol scores.  These Oral Health Scores, combined with your clinical examination, will allow us to make the best recommendations for you specifically.  Do you know your Oral Health Scores?  If not, now is the time to find out!  With proper treatment we can improve your Oral Health Scores just like your physician can improve your cholesterol score.

We are always welcoming new patients into our practice family!  Call us today to reserve your time with us!

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.  In the spirit of Children’s Dental Health Month we wanted to bring you some information that we feel is important for you to know.  We often get many questions from parents about their children’s developing smile regarding what to expect and how best to care for them.  Below is more information that can be helpful as you help your child maintain proper oral health as they grow.

The Growing Years: From Birth to Six…

People usually think of a newborn baby as having no teeth, but the 20 primary teeth that will erupt in the next three years are already present at birth in the baby’s jawbones.  A baby’s front four teeth usually erupt first, typically at about six months of age- although some children do not get their first tooth until 12 to 14 months.  As soon as teeth appear in your child’s mouth, decay can occur. One of the risk factors for early childhood cavities (sometimes referred to as baby bottle tooth decay) is frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids containing sugar; including milk, breast milk, formula and fruit juice.  It is very important to remember that you should schedule your child’s first visit to the dentist at around 1 year old or when they start getting their first teeth.

As our children grow, a good diet is essential for growth and development.  Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet.  Our children’s pre-school years are an important time to help establish good eating habits.  Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups; fruits, vegetables, breads and other grain products, milk, meats and alternates, such as dry beans and peas, eggs and nuts.

The Growing Years: From Six to 12…

At about age six, although sometimes it may start earlier, children begin to lose their front teeth on top and bottom.  During the next six years or so, permanent teeth gradually will replace the primary teeth.  The first molars usually erupt between ages five and six.  It is at this time that Dental Sealants are recommended to keep these teeth protected for the long life they have ahead; because these will be the oldest teeth in our children’s mouth when they reach adulthood.  These teeth will have been exposed to a lot more decay causing elements than all the other teeth.  A sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surface of healthy, cavity-free premolars and molars, where decay occurs most often. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay- prone areas of the back teeth from plaque and acid attacks.

The Growing Year: From 12 to adulthood…

From age 12 continuing on to adulthood are crucial ages to maintain optimal oral health.  Regular dental visits are vital to keeping a healthy smile, for at these visits the dentist examines our children’s mouth for tooth decay and growth or proper development conditions that could possibly pose a problem in the future.  At these ages, the last of the permanent teeth are erupting and constantly shifting; which can lead to malocclusion or an “improper bite.”  This is a condition which the teeth are crowded, crooked, or out of proper alignment.  If this is the situation, an orthodontic evaluation is recommended; early examination and treatment may help prevent and reduce the severity of malocclusion.  Orthodontics not only helps move teeth to their proper places, but also because your child’s teeth will be in the correct position, they will be easier to keep clean and cavity free. Let’s all work together to ensure that nothing, including tooth decay, malocclusion, and gum disease is standing in our children’s way of achieving and maintaining optimal oral health.

Remember Mom and Dad, good oral health habits begin at home with you.  As you well know, your children are constantly watching and learning from you.  Studies have shown that children whose parents have poor oral health habits and do not visit the dentist regularly will grow up with the same belief and neglect their oral health.  Poor oral health has been linked to serious health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.  Let’s all work together to be role models and teachers for our children and encourage good oral health so that wonderful smile that warms your heart will last for their lifetime!

Tips to maintain Tip Top Teeth throughout you Child’s life:

• Infants and Toddlers: After every feeding, wipe your baby’s gums either with a clean, wet gauze pad or a washcloth. This removes plaque and residual food that can harm erupting teeth.
• Toddlers: Brush and floss your child’s teeth until the child has developed the necessary skills to do so themselves.
• Bring your child with to your next dental reservation so they may become acquainted and comfortable with the office, the dentist and the staff. Also schedule your child’s first reservation with the dentist early (around 1 year old)…Good habits can never start too early!

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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For years we have heard of the ever-growing connections between dentistry and medicine, with articles written in medical and dental journals as well.  For decades dentists have looked at the increasing body of evidence that what we are doing in the mouth can affect the rest of the body.

The mountain of evidence that supports the oral health-overall health connection has seen incredible growth and advancement over the past few years.  There is no longer a question as to “if” the soft tissues in the mouth are connected to the rest of the body. For example, we can easily find evidence of gum disease-causing bacteria creating challenges in tissues throughout the body. However, the mouth-body connection is not limited to just infections in the soft tissues of the mouth. The impact of the mouth also extends to such monumental things as blood flow to the brain.

Each year we learn more and more about how poor oral health is linked to problems elsewhere in the body.  It has been linked to serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, respiratory diseases, and even increased risks of some cancers.  Today, more than ever, it is vital to make regular trips to the dentist a part of your plan to achieve optimal health and wellness.

At our practice we don’t just look in your mouth, we look past your mouth to see the whole picture of you individually.  Your mouth is the window to your overall health and wellness.  The state of your oral health can offer clues about your overall well-being.  Oral Health and total health and wellness are more connected than you might realize.

As we have learned more about the relationship between oral health and overall health, we have also learned much about how the materials and techniques that we use everyday can affect your overall heath as well, both positively and negatively.

At our practice, we are committed to practicing dentistry with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy.  In using the terms ‘biological and biocompatible’ we are not attempting to carve out a new specialty in dentistry, but rather to describe an attitude and philosophy that can apply to all facets of dental practice, and to health care in general.

To us, the best way to describe Biological Dentistry is Individualized Dentistry.  It is dentistry that is completely focused on You. Not just who you are in terms of your teeth and oral health, but also who you are as a whole person physiologically, emotionally, and dentally.  Since every person does not react the same way to the same procedures, medications, or materials, why should we treat every person the same way?  We do not just treat teeth and oral disease at our Practice.  We treat People. And in our experience, every person is unique and different in their own ways.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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Throughout the years research has shown links between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s disease.  Now researchers from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have found gum disease could also influence brain function through several mechanisms, such as causing inflammation throughout the body, a risk factor for loss of mental function.

 The study, reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, included more than 2,350 men and women who were tested for periodontitis (gum disease) and completed a number of different thinking skills tests as part of a national survey.

 What they found was among adults 60 years of age and older, those people with the highest amount of a gum disease causing bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, were three times more likely to have trouble recalling a three-word sequence after a period of time.  Also, people who had the highest levels of this bacteria present were nearly three times more likely to struggle with verbal memory tests, and twice as likely to fail on both delayed verbal recall and subtraction tests.

 This study is another of many that have shown the importance of maintaining your optimal oral health.  Your mouth and oral health are connected to more than just chewing and eating.  Taking care of the health of your teeth and gums through regular visits for hygiene therapy will not only improve your oral health, but it will affect your overall health and wellness as well.  Call us today to reserve your time to shape up your teeth and gums.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most common chronic childhood disease – 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.  Recent studies have also shown a link between oral disease and low birth weight, cardiovascular disease, respiratory infection, and diabetes.  All of this reinforces what we have all known for a long time – the health of your mouth affects your overall health.

The good news is tooth decay can be prevented with self-care (daily brushing and flossing), fluoride, and sealants.

So, how does poor oral health affect your child’s learning or performance in school?  Dental disease is one of the top causes of absenteeism among elementary school children.  The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General calls dental and oral diseases a “silent epidemic.”   The report stated that nearly 52 million hours of school are lost each year due to dental-related illness.  The symptom that goes hand-in-hand with dental disease is pain.  Pain from oral disease will keep students from concentrating and learning.  Any kind of pain or discomfort around the head will be a big distraction and keep their mind from focusing on the tasks at hand, like math, science, English, history, etc.  Pain and swelling are both symptoms of severe disease.  Sadly, these severe cases are common in our classrooms.

What can we do to improve our children’s oral health?  Unlike taking care of your ears, caring for your mouth requires daily attention, as well as visits to the dentist office for professional care on a regular basis – every 6 months.  Remember, tooth decay is preventable.  That is why it is vital that all children start seeing a dentist at an early age, as early as 12 months old.  Children that see visit a dentist on a regular basis take better care of their teeth and gums and do not have the significant problems that are often present in children who never visit the dentist.  This also gives us the opportunity to identify problems early before they escalate into larger, more expensive problems to treat.

Many people are not aware that poor oral health can have serious effects on overall health.  I have often heard people say, “Oh, they’re just baby teeth, they’ll fall out anyway.”  What they don’t realize is that if you have tooth decay early in childhood, you have a good predictor of future decay.  Establish good oral health habits early. When your child is 12 months old, you can begin using toothpaste, without fluoride, when brushing his or her teeth. However, only use a pea-sized portion on the brush and press it into the bristles so your child won’t eat it.  And, when the gaps between your child’s teeth close, it’s important to start flossing.  Serve as a good role model by practicing good oral health care habits yourself.  Check your child’s mouth for any signs of gum disease, including bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums, gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.  Let’s all work together to ensure that nothing, including tooth decay and gum disease, is standing in our children’s way of getting the most out of the classroom.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township,Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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