Online Referral Form

You may refer patients to our office by filling out our secure online Referral Form. After you have completed the form, please make sure to press the Submit button at the bottom to automatically send us your information. The security and privacy of patient data is one of our primary concerns and we have taken every precaution to protect it.

Technical Note:

PC Users
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Mac Users
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Newsletter Articles

Health Risks Associated with Periodontal Disease

Several recent studies have shown that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for the development of certain general health problems. Periodontal disease may put people at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and delivery of preterm low birth weight babies. Medical and dental professionals have long suspected that infection in the mouth could contribute to diseases elsewhere in the body. At this point, we cannot say that periodontal disease definitely causes problems like heart disease and respiratory problems, but studies have found an increased incidence of these problems in patients with periodontal disease. This increase is apparent after all other known contributing factors are considered.

We now know that periodontal disease is not solely caused by poor oral hygiene. 30% of the population is genetically susceptible, suggesting that the entire immune system is involved in the development of periodontal disease. The same immune reactions which occur as periodontal disease may cause additional responses in the rest of the body. When we consider heart disease, studies have shown that the classic risk factors (family history, hypertention, high cholesterol and cigarette smoking) account for only 1/2 to 2/3 of all causes. Other unrecognized factors must also contribute to this disease. Studies have also shown that patients with periodontal disease have a 1.5 – 2.0 increase of fatal cardiovascular disease over those patients without periodontal disease. Periodontal patients also have a 2.6 fold increase in the incidence of strokes.

The mechanism by which periodontal disease may influence cardiovascular disease is unclear, but one possibility is that the increased immune response in periodontal patients raises the level of circulating cellular mediators. This increase may accelerate the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Another possibility is that know periodontal pathogens such as p. gingivitis could cause platelet aggregation leading to clot formation within the coronary and cerebral vessels. These small clots could lead to myocardial infarction or stroke. This specific clotting phenomenon has been demonstrated in the laboratory.

Regardless of the mechanism, we do know that patients with periodontal disease have higher rates or cardiovascular diseases, both heart attacks and strokes. The clinical implications have yet to be determined, but treatment of periodontal disease may ultimately decrease the likelihood of a patient developing those diseases. The American Academy of Periodontology has developed a series of patient information pamphlets which discuss the possible link between periodontal disease and other general health
problems.

Smoking is a Major Risk Factor for Periodontal Disease

Smoking is among the most important risk factors for periodontal disease, according to an article published in The Oral Care Report. The article cites reports that smoking is associated with periodontal disease in about half of all those aged 19 to 30 years, and in about one third of those aged 31 to 40 years. Although former smokers still have twice the probability of having periodontal disease than people who have never smoked, their chances of having periodontal disease are lower than those of current smokers.

The article states that the probability of having periodontal disease increases with the amount smoked, both the number of cigarettes per day and the number of years smoking. The amount of bone loss is also directly related to the amount smoked. The risk of alveolar bone loss is seven times greater for heavy smokers than for people who have never smoked. Tooth loss is also affected by smoking, with the majority of tooth loss in adults aged 19 to 40 being associated with more than 15 cigarettes per day.

A critical component of any periodontal disease treatment plan includes patient education about the beneficial impact of good oral hygiene, discontinuing or reducing tobacco use, and regular dental checkups and cleanings. High risk patients, including those who smoke, may require closer monitoring of their periodontal status and early aggressive treatment for the early stages of periodontal disease.