Gingivitis ranks as one of the most common health problems in the U.S., with over 50 percent of the adult population suffering from some degree of gum disease. At the early stages of gingivitis – an early form of gum disease – most people don’t even notice their gums slowly turning a darker red, especially if they don’t regularly visit their Edmond family dentist. Unfortunately, without the proper care and attention, the disease progresses and can cause bleeding, chronic bad breath, gum inflammation, and eventually periodontitis, a more advanced form of gum disease and the leading cause of permanent tooth loss in adults. Bacterial growth, commonly referred to as plaque, ranks as the primary cause of gum disease. While several types of oral bacteria can pose a threat to our oral health, some types pose a greater risk than others. One particularly troublesome strain of bacteria is known as Porphyromonas gingivalis. A mouth that features a high percent of this type of bacteria has a higher risk for periodontitis. Understanding the Causes of Gum Disease For decades, researchers have attempted to determine what makes this type of bacteria so problematic for our oral health. Studies from the 90s found that the bacteria had the ability to invade our gum cells. This led to the possibility for the bleeding and cell death that causes gum recession. While this discovery provided some insight, it marked only the beginning of what researchers would uncover. When any chronic infection develops, the immune system invariably plays a role. In 2001, researchers finally found what impact this type of bacteria had on the body’s immune system. The presence of the bacteria caused a type of cellular inflammation in gum tissue. Some research indicated that just the physical components of the bacterial cells was enough to cause the inflammation. However, this data only showed short-term effects of the oral bacteria, allowing the long-term cause of gum disease to remain hidden. Now, researchers believe they may have uncovered what’s ultimately responsible for the development of gum disease. An international group of researchers used a combined mixture of human and microbial cell cultures to identify a specific protein they named Gingipain as the cause of long-term inflammation linked to gum disease. The results of this research suggest the bacteria causes the most trouble when inactive. The initial experiments behind this research were fairly standard. Immune cell cultures were infected by the bacteria in hopes that the cellular markers for inflammation would materialize. Indeed, not only did the cell react to the presence of the bacteria, but when Gingipain was active, very little inflammation actually occurred. Conversely, when the enzyme remained dormant, the inflammation really took off. This unexpected twist led researchers to believe that there may be more than just a simple infection going on in the body. To answer that question, researchers had to conduct a different type of experiment. Researchers needed to analyze the infected cells after adding them to an artificial immune system to determine what effect the enzyme had on a systematic level. When researchers examined the impact the infection had on the immune system, they were surprised to discover the inactive form of the enzyme has the sores effect. In this study, inflammation was actually increased and sustained. This indicated that a lack of enzyme activity was actually making the situation worse. While these results seemed to make little sense initially, researchers were able to identify an explanation. They examined the different proteins involved in inflammation hoping to find one that might interact with the enzyme. The most likely candidate was a molecule known as interleukin six (IL-6). If researchers were right, blocking this molecule might stop the inflammation causing gum disease regardless of how active the enzyme. The Potential for Future Breakthroughs Researchers were proven correct, when they blocked IL-6, inflammation decreased in all cases. Researchers had finally identified the right suspect in the periodontitis mystery. But perhaps even more important, the results of their research have shown that the trouble wasn’t being caused by some type of previously unknown biological entity, but by a factor previously known to be linked with long-term inflammation. Having identified the role IL-6 plays in oral inflammation, researchers suggest the potential to slow and possibly stop the progression of gingivitis may not be too far into the future. A drug already exists that would effectively achieve this goal, but currently it is only approved to treat another IL-6 based condition, rheumatoid arthritis. Regardless, the fact that a drug exists that has already been approved for use by the FDA suggests a new version designed to treat gum disease may only be a few years away vs. decades. As we continue to wait for the medication to catch up with the research, the best way reduce your risk of gingivitis is to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy. This means brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling regular exams and cleanings with your Edmond family dentist. While research may eventually help us find long-term solutions for gum disease, a little prevention in the short-term will go a long way towards ensuring you enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Dental anxiety is a condition that we commonly see at our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma. Dental anxiety elevates from a simply preference to avoid the dentist to a phobia when it starts having a significant impact on a patient’s well-being. For example, people who suffer from dental phobias are more likely to have untreated cases of tooth decay and missing teeth. These people also report a decrease in the quality of their lives, as caused directly by their poor oral health. To determine what impact dental anxiety has on an individual’s long-term oral health, researchers from the King’s College London Dental Institute conducted a new study that examined data collected as part of the Adult Dental Health Survey. Researchers examined the survey’s data to determine what common oral health problems were exhibited by patients who suffer from dental phobias. The data was comprised of over 10,000 participants, with more than 1,300 identified as phobic. In this group, 344 were male, and 1,023 were female. The results of the study found that the participants who suffered from a dental phobia were more likely to have cavities and one or more missing teeth when compared to those who did not have a dental phobia. Dental Phobias Lead to Poor Oral Health Researchers suggest that the higher rates of tooth decay and missing teeth were because many people with dental phobias avoid seeing a dentist regularly to address oral conditions that are preventable and chronic. Once a visit has been made, the phobic patient also might opt for a short-term solution to their problem rather than undergo a long-term treatment option, such as a tooth extraction. “The correlation between those with missing teeth and dental phobia could be the result of treatment decisions made when the individual with dental phobia finally seeks treatment. Both patient and practitioner may favor extraction of the tooth rather than booking a number of appointments to complete a restoration,” states Dr. Tim Newton of the King’s College London Dental Institute. The study also examined how dental phobias impact an individual’s quality of life, physiological, social, psychological, and emotional well-being. The patients examined in the study also exhibited higher levels of impact in these areas, even when levels of dental disease were successfully controlled. “Other research has shown that individuals with dental phobia express negative feelings such as sadness, tiredness, discouragement, and general anxiety, less vitality, and more exhaustion,” states lead author of the study, Ellie Heidari. “Embarrassment at their poor teeth will prevent them from smiling and showing their teeth.” Researchers also noted the dramatic difference in the number of females versus males that identified as suffering from a dental phobia. While the reason behind this discrepancy remains unclear, researchers did speculate that it may be due to men being more reluctant to discuss extreme fears during the self-reporting process. Researchers also speculated that biological factors such as high levels of cortical arousal, which lead to an increased vigilance and awareness in regard to fear stimuli, may also play a role. Overall, the findings of this study have further implications for preventative dental care for patients suffering from dental phobias. By providing these patients with a detailed oral hygiene program to follow at home, oral health practitioners could lower the number of patients that suffer from higher rates of dental decay and disease through preventative measures. The King’s College London Dental Institute is currently in the process of creating a program to help patients suffering from a dental phobia, focusing on steps that can be taken to help them avoid common oral health problems at home. Protecting Your Oral Health While visiting our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma may not rank highly for some of our patients, regular preventative care plays a vital role in protecting your long-term oral and overall health. If you suffer from a dental phobia, our team of gentle and compassionate dental hygienists will work with you to help ease any feelings of stress or discomfort you may experience while at our office. From walking you through each treatment procedure in advance to sedation dentistry, our team will help find a way to give you the care you need in a comfortable and relaxing environment.

As your Edmond family dentist, our team at Santa Fe Dental strives to help educate our patients on the many ways that our oral health can impact our overall health. Recent research has shown that the mouth/body connection is very real, and that by suffering from poor oral health we can significantly increase our risk for a variety of health problems. This connection is especially true for seniors who can significantly increase their risk of a conditions such as arthritis, dementia, and even premature death by suffering from poor oral health. Now a new study suggests that food scarcity doesn’t rank as the only cause of malnutrition in older adults – poor oral health also plays a role, according to researchers at the University of North Caroline’s School of Medicine. “For patients who don’t have enough food at home, the solution is pretty obvious and likely much less expensive than paying for the medical care that results from malnutrition,” states Tim Platts-Mills, lead author of the study. “There is an existing national system of food assistance programs, such as Meals on Wheels, and we believe we can use the emergency department to link patients in need to those programs.” However, while improving access to food offers some challenges, researchers found that for seniors suffering from poor oral health, malnutrition was caused by other issues. Malnutrition & Oral Health As part of the study, researchers examined over 250 patients over the age of 65 that sought care in emergency rooms across three different states. The study participants were screened for malnutrition and then questioned about known risk factors. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study group was 12 percent, a number consistent with previous estimates from emergency rooms about twice as high in seniors that don’t require hospitalization or assisted living. Of the three states involved in the study, those visiting North Carolina emergency rooms had the highest rate of malnutrition at 15 percent. Researchers noted that North Carolina also suffers from one of the highest rates of seniors living below the poverty line of any state in the U.S. Of the risk factors catalogued by researchers, poor oral health was found to have the highest impact on malnutrition. “We think that many of these patients have longstanding dental problems and that for some patients the poor dentition makes it hard for them to eat,” stated Platt-Mills in a review of the study’s findings. “However, this is a cross-sectional study, so we don’t know for sure. It’s possible that the poor nutrition led to the dental problems. We did not get information on the specific types of foods they were eating.” Over half of the study participants suffered from some type of dental problem, and those with dental problems were three times as likely to suffer from malnutrition as those without. The researchers defined poor oral health using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. They did not specify what types of dental problems participants suffered from, just whether the problems they experienced fit within the index. Additionally, about 10 percent of patients dealt with food insecurity, defined as not having enough to eat, eating less meals, or going to bed hungry. Other factors linked to malnutrition such as depression, medical side effects, and social isolation may also contribute in increasing an individual’s risk. “Improving oral health in older adults will be more challenging but also important. Medicare does not cover dental care. Fixing dental problems not only makes it easier for these individuals to eat but also can improve their self-esteem, quality of life, and overall health. We need affordable methods of providing dental care for older adults,” states lead author Collin Burks. Improving Senior Dental Care For many seniors, the idea that with advanced age naturally comes oral health problems is an issue that your Edmond family dentist and others around the U.S. commonly face. However, the notion that tooth loss and declining oral health is inevitable during our golden years is simply untrue. By practicing quality oral hygiene at home and scheduling regular exams and cleanings we can all enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. “For physicians and caregivers, I think a key issue is education about preventive care, such as brushing,” states Platts-Mills. “I think the next question is whether physicians can learn some basic dental skills, which is almost entirely ignored in most medical education in the United States.” If you or a loved one suffers from poor oral health, it’s never too late to improve your quality of life by improving the health of your teeth and gums. At Santa Fe Dental, we can help. Schedule an appointment today to start enjoying the oral health and happiness you deserve.

Heavy smoking may negatively impact the optimal time for implant placement, according to a recent study. Researchers discovered that heavy smoking slowed the health of posterior mandible implant but did not impact the survival rate of implants. The results of this study heavily suggest that smoking promoted the loss of marginal bone and the continued development of deep gum pockets. “These results imply that it might be of importance to select the right time point to apply the implant lading for heavy smokers,” wrote lead researcher Cong Sun in the Journal of Oral Implantology. The study was conducted by Dr. Sun and researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong. Impact of Smoking Earlier studies have suggested that smokers suffer from increased implant failure rates and a higher risk of postoperative infection, as well as greater marginal bone loss. However, additional analysis has suggested that smoking only significantly impacts the survival of implants placed in the maxilla, and some reports indicate that smoking does not dramatically impact the survival of implants placed in the mandible. “Currently, informative studies on the influence of heavy smoking on single-tooth implants placed at the posterior mandibles of smokers are lacking,” noted the study authors. “However, this information/knowledge is needed for surgeons to make informed decisions and refine treatment plans to optimize outcomes.” Researchers began to evaluate postsugery bone healing and peri-implant tissue response in heavy smokers who received dental implants due in part to partially edentulous posterior mandibles. The study involved 16 heavy smokers and 16 nonsmokers. All of the study participants were men between the ages of 25 to 65. Among the participants, 45 dental implants were placed. Heavy smokers were classified as those who smoked one or more packs of cigarettes per day for at least a decade. Nonsmokers had no history of smoking. Since the majority of implant failures occur between the second surgery phase and first year of functional loading, researchers examined implant stability during: The first 12 weeks after surgery prior to loading The first after following loading Researchers monitored implant stability for the initial three months following implantation. Changes in stability during bone healing before loading represent changes at the implant-bone interface. In both groups, the stability of the implant decreased from the initial measurement taken following surgery, with the lowest recorded stability rating coming around 14 days after surgery. However, the rate of healing between the participants diverged between two weeks and three months. Furthermore, examination of samples of jaw marrow from the participants indicated that samples from nonsmokers exhibited a better ability to form calcified nodules and mineralization when compared to samples taken from smokers. A reduced ability to mineralize would slow osseointegration, noted researchers. Between 6 and 12 months, researchers found that marginal bone loss and probing depth were dramatically higher in smokers when compared to the nonsmokers. This suggested to researchers that after a short loading time, heavy smokers had an increased risk of developing inflammation in the surrounding soft tissue. This inflammation could negatively impact implant success rates. Impact on Osseointegration Researchers involved in the study noted that their results differed in some ways from earlier studies that found that smoking had no significant impact on osseointegration or marginal bone loss. The results of the study may have occurred because of the use of different implants or some other unknown factor, admitted researchers. Researchers also noted the limitation of their study in the small sample size of their participant group and limited duration of examination. For these reason, researchers believe further examination on this topic is warranted.