Articles
Thank you to all who helped us help God's Storehouse. We collected about 50 cans of food and raised about $650 towards their fundraiser.
Congrats to Jim and Lesie McDole who won our basket with the Christmas goodies.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the greeting card collection. We sent over 200 card to the St. Jude's Research Center for the children to use. Once again thank you for your support.
Dr. Helton and Staff
Periodontal Infection and Glycemic Control: Diabetes
Burden of Diabetes - Complications include:
- heart disease
- stroke
- high blood pressure
- visual impairment
- renal disease
- amputation
- complications in pregnancy
Costs? $132 billion of that $92 billion direct medical costs and $40 billion in indrect costs ie: disability, work loss, premature mortality.
What is the link between diabetes and perondontitis? Epidemiological studies provide support for a relationship between insulin. Perio disease is a chronic inflammatory disease. People with high levels of inflammation are more likely to have insulin resistance than those with lower levels.
Insulin resistance is a continuing problem in people with diabetes. People with chronic inflammation are more likely to acquire diabetes at some time in the future. Inflammation involves increased permeability of the capillaries leading to potential portals to the systemic circulation for inflammatory mediators and products of the bacterial infection.
Treating periodontal infection can have important potential in managing diabetes.
Compiled by Carrie Rogers, RDH
from Inside Dentistry April 2007 Issue
For more information go to www.insidedentistry.net
What is Tooth Erosion?
A recent survey of AGD members revealed that dentists think tooth erosion is more common today compared to five years ago, and many respondents stated that consuming soft drinks, as well as other foods with a low pH value (such as fruit juices, pickles, fresh fruit and yogurt), contributes to tooth erosion. Tooth erosion is the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effects of acid on the teeth. Dental enamel is the thin, outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth's structure and shape while protecting it from decay.
Taken from AGD in Action September 12, 2007 issue Antibiotic prophylaxis - Making sense of new AHA guidelines
The American Heart Association announced in April that it no longer recommends antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of infection endocarditis in certain dental patients. If you have heart conditions please contact your cardiologist for information on whether you need to take antibiotics before your dental treatment. For more information go to www.ada.org
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN?
Do you remember when there were no childproof caps on drugs, and that was OK?
Do you remember when you could hold a child in your lap in the car, and that was OK?
Do you remember when you could rely on Social Security for retirement, and that was OK?
Do you remember when twice a year dental cleanings were the standard, and that was OK?
The facts are that the old six-month cleaning is obsolete for many patients. As our knowledge increases about the effects of systemic diseases and oral health, we have to consider: "Is what we've done for so long enough?" We know that bacterial inflammation in the mouth can be a factor in the development of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other serious problems. Because of this, a few dental benefit companies have recently begun to offer additional "hygiene" service provisions, either as part of a dental plan or as part of a medical management program. Some plans are offering extra cleanings for diabetic patients who are enrolled in a disease management program. Delta of Virginia recently added a benefit designed to address research indicating that incidences of premature, low-birth weight infants may be related to oral conditions. They are now covering extra cleanings for pregnant women under certain conditions. In dentistry, we have advocated 3-4 month recall appointments for diabetics, pregnant women, those with heart problems, auto-immune disorders, patients under going chemotherapy and patients in orthodontics, just to name a few.
Insurance companies may be starting to get on the bandwagon, but what if yours does not cover the extra care you need? The link between systemic health and oral health is becoming clearer and insurance benefits should NOT be the only consideration when making a decision about treatment. People who have lost their teeth often say they would give any amount of money to get them back. A person's smile, attractiveness, ability to chew and enjoy food and general sense of well-being are dependent on dental health. Now we know that general health is impacted as well.
Cindy Bailey
Edited from RDH magazine
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