For centuries it has been believed that there has been a connection between health of the mouth and the rest of the body. Now we have the evidence. When the major medical problems that kill three out of every four people, combined with the most common disease known to man, gum disease, that’s something to be concerned about. Periodontal (gum) disease causes systemic inflammation which leads to a myriad of major medical problems such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and several other diseases and disorders. Periodontal disease is now a medical problem.
Pregnancy complications soar by a factor of 255% for women with gum disease.
Diabetic mortality in non-gum-diseased adults rises from 3% to almost 28% when gum disease is present. C-reactive protein in now recognised as a more significant risk factor for heart disease and strokes than is high cholesterol levels. Cancers of inflammatory origin (colon), Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, kidney disease, and other diseases and conditions related to systemic inflammation are now entering this arena. Because of this new science, dentists now occupy a pivotal role in the general health and well-being of their patients and make a very significant contribution to the medical establishment’s efforts to keep a modern population healthy. Due to this new standard of care with a shift to embrace oral health status, doctors and dentists are insisting that their patients deal with chronic oral infections. The complications arising from gum disease cannot be ignored.
At Duxton Dental we have amassed a large amount of knowledge in this area. In our hygiene department, we are combining this information along with modern treatment techniques (Antibiotic regimes, Laser Assisted Periodontal Tissue Therapy and innovative home care mouthwashes) to identify and treat the forms of oral infection responsible for these major systemic concerns.