Gum disease (known as periodontitis) is a silent disease. It is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. You can’t see it. There’s usually no pain. Often times, you don’t even know you have it. If left untreated, gum disease just gets worse and can compromise your oral health and your overall health. It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs. Research has demonstrated that as many as 3 out of 4 people will experience some form of gum disease in their lifetime. There are many reasons to take gum disease seriously. The latest research studies tell us that gum disease may increase your risk of:
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory Diseases
- Delivering a preterm, low birth-weight baby
- Other serious health risks
There are many tests that help doctors predict our risk of developing certain diseases. We routinely get our blood pressure taken to assess our risk of hypertension. A blood pressure of higher than 120/80 is considered high risk and in need of treatment. We get our cholesterol checked to assess our risk of heart disease. A cholesterol score of higher than 200 is considered high risk and in need of treatment. There are even genetic tests for breast and ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer that tell us if we are in an extremely high risk category for developing these cancers. Most of us do not question the validity of these results and accept that the treatment that is recommended by our doctor is necessary to better our overall health and reduce these risks.
At our Family and Cosmetic Dental Office in Shelby Township, Michigan, we are very proud to offer every one of our patients PreViser™, a state-of-the-art, easy to understand and scientifically validated risk assessment tool for gum disease. This specialized computer software is an easy tool that you will receive at every routine hygiene therapy and oral cancer screenings appointment at no extra cost. The PreViser™ analytic reports provide us with a Periodontal Disease Risk Score that tells us, on a scale from 1-5, the probability you have of developing gum disease in your lifetime. It also provides us with a Periodontal Disease Score, on a scale of 1-100, which tells us how healthy you are right now.
Why is this important? The earlier that gum disease is diagnosed the faster it can be halted it in its tracks. Gum disease affects more than just your teeth and gums. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. That is why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations, as well as, good oral hygiene at home are essential to help keep gum disease from becoming more serious or recurring. You don’t have to lose teeth to gum disease.
No one wants to lose teeth. No one wants to risk heart disease. No one wants to risk diabetes. No one wants to risk cancer. Knowing your Oral Health Scores is the first step toward healthier teeth and gums. It allows us to chart your course to better oral health. Remember that if caught early enough, gum disease can be reversed or prevented altogether. Now is the time to find out if you are at risk for gum disease. There can be no greater peace of mind than knowing you are protecting your health.
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.
