Peridontal Disease

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Physical beauty, whether it's a physique, a head of hair, or a smile, is closely related to physical health. At Dental Design in Oklahoma City, Dr. Duncan sees the two as inseparable, and his dental care works equally on your smile's beauty and its health.

Coordinating your dental health and medical health

He also pays attention to your general health, because research studies have recently been finding links between periodontal (gum) disease and other health conditions, such as:

Diabetes
Heart disease
Cancers
Alzheimer's Disease
Kidney disease
Stroke
Respiratory disease
Pre-term, low birth weight babies

When you visit Dr. Duncan's office, you'll be asked about your overall health, so that your dental care can be coordinated with your medical care. Dr. Duncan is a member of the Centers for Dental Medicine, which supports the integration of dental and medical care.

How does gum disease affect the body?

Gum disease is a type of infection, caused by the bacteria on the gums and teeth which have been allowed to multiply. They digest tiny food particles in the mouth, and deposit acidic and toxic excretions on the teeth and gums. This is known as plaque at first, and it can be brushed and flossed away by daily dental hygiene. But if it's allowed to stay in the mouth, it hardens into tartar, also called calculus, which cannot be brushed or flossed off. It has tiny sharp edges that irritate the gums.

The gums become inflamed, swollen, and sore, and start bleeding when you brush. So the bacterial excretions can enter the bloodstream, travel to other parts of the body, and trigger chemical reactions. In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, a good professional cleaning and some special care and monitoring can often take care of the problems. In the later stage, periodontitis, more aggressive treatment will be needed. Treatment is difficult then because a vicious cycle has been set up. The bacteria multiply, the gums pull back from enclosing the teeth, leaving little pockets, where more bacteria can live, multiply, and excrete, creating larger pockets, and so on. Decay can spread beyond the teeth to the gums, and even into the bone.

Recent research

When the bacterial excretions enter the bloodstream and travel, they reach the liver, where they trigger the manufacture of certain proteins, one of which is C-reactive protein (CRP). Studies have shown that increased blood levels of CRP are related to heart attacks, even more so than increased cholesterol levels. CRP has an inflammatory effect on arteries and can cause blood clots which in turn can travel in the bloodstream. If they get lodged in the heart, a heart attack ensues. If they're lodged in a brain artery, a stroke happens.

These studies have also connected the body mass index (BMI) with increased CRP levels. So both weight loss and periodontal treatment will be helpful in reducing your risk of heart disease.

According to the Centers for Dental Medicine, both the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are studying the possibility of CRP levels being routinely tested nationwide, to assist in the diagnosis of heart disease and its treatment. Such testing is already available in some health centers and hospitals.

If you are pregnant, diabetic, or have any heart problems, Dr. Duncan recommends that you visit a dentist as well as your regular medical providers. A dentist with the extensive training Dr. Duncan has can examine you, assess your health history, and perhaps do some timely periodontal treatment that will avoid big problems down the road.

Please call or email us today to schedule your free consultation, or ask your questions.