Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Is Your Mouth Making You Sick?

Did you know that putting off dental visits could be ruining your health?   It's logical...your mouth is the gateway into your body.


The common thread between gum disease and chronic health conditions is inflammation — the body’s natural response to an infection or injury. The build-up of inflammatory substances in the blood seems to worsen heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, an increase your chances of getting cancer. Eliminating the gum infection may dampen that harmful response throughout the body.

Gum disease—which begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque builds up around your teeth—is closely linked to premature birth, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health problems. A recent report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that treating gum disease (also called periodontal disease) can lead to better health — as evidenced by lower health care costs and fewer hospitalizations — among people with common health conditions.

The study looked at health and dental insurance records from nearly 339,000 people, all of whom had periodontal disease and one of five conditions: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease (usually a stroke), rheumatoid arthritis, or pregnancy. Researchers found that people with four of the five conditions (all except rheumatoid arthritis) who had at least one periodontal disease treatment had lower medical costs and fewer hospitalizations within four years of the treatment compared with people who weren’t treated.

The savings were especially striking — 74% lower — among pregnant women. The savings came from avoiding the costs associated with premature births, which has been linked to periodontal disease, and other complications. People with cardiovascular disease and diabetes who had their periodontitis treated had health-care costs that were between 20% and 40% lower.

Recently, it was demonstrated that women with gum disease are 14% more likely to develop cancer than those with healthy teeth and gums, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.  The link appears to be strongest for esophageal cancer, but associations were also found between poor oral health and lung, gallbladder, breast, and skin cancer.

Important Tip: Daily tooth brushing and flossing can prevent and even reverse the earliest form of gum disease, called gingivitis.

Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. The gums pull back from the root of the tooth, creating a tiny pocket that gradually widens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation attack the tissue that holds the tooth to the jawbone, which can cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.

A dentist or hygienist can treat periodontal disease by cleaning the teeth above and below the gum line, a procedure known as scaling and root planning (SRP). They use manual scalers or ultrasound devices to scrape away hardened plaque (tartar). This does not require any sedation in both my West Hartford Center dental office and DowntownNew Britain dental office.

As I always tell you, brush and floss every day to keep your gums healthy. Be on the lookout for these signs of gum disease—especially if you’re pregnant or have a history of heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes—and seek treatment.


Signs of gum disease
Any of these signs can be a clue that you have periodontal disease:
  • swollen, red, or tender gums
  • gums that bleed easily
  • pus between the teeth and gums
  • bad breath
  • buildup of hard brown deposits along the gum line
  • loose teeth or teeth that are moving apart
  • changes in the way dental appliances fit.

If you have any of these issues, and especially if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or stroke, or if you might be pregnant, contact my office for a checkup. Your loved ones will be glad you did.

Keep smiling,


Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Dental Implants - Why It's Crucial To Replace Missing Teeth

What is a Dental Implant?

Before we get into the importance of replacing teeth, let's address the most common question first: what exactly is a dental implant anyway? A dental implant is a tiny, but extremely strong, titanium alloy screw which is used while surgically replacing damaged or missing natural teeth.  It is drilled into the jawbone, so that the screw can firmly connect the artificial teeth or any other dental prosthesis to the jaw.


In addition to its use in replacing broken/missing teeth, implants can also be used to provide support to loose, removable dentures.  They're the next best thing to having your own natural teeth, and I find them to be so desirable, that I've placed them in members of my own family.


Now that you know what a dental implant is exactly, let's take a look at why replacing lost or badly damaged teeth is important in the first place. 

Appearance


Superficial as it may sound to someone who has all their teeth, even a single missing tooth can put a lot of emotional stress on us. In varying degrees, we are all somewhat concerned about our appearance, and it affects our confidence as well.


To lose your perfect smile because of a missing tooth or two can cause depression and loss of confidence, which in turn may affect your work and personal life. It has been found that dental implants are often effective in boosting the patient's morale and overall confidence. Since there is no externally visible difference between a replaced tooth and a natural one after the procedure, it does actually affect physical appearance positively.


Oral Health


As soon as a tooth is lost, the balance in your entire dental structure is disturbed. The created gap allows for the remaining teeth (especially the ones nearest to the gap) to tilt and shift as a result of even the most normal regular chewing.


This could lead to further oral problems down the line, especially if the distorted structure of the teeth interferes with the patient's chewing abilities. It isn't uncommon to see someone lose multiple teeth over the years as a result of this and more often than not, the bone loss occurs in the same row, side by side.


The Comfort


If you have all your teeth intact, then you probably don't have any idea how it feels when a particularly hard piece of food comes in-between the exposed root of the missing molar and an existing one.


Let's just say that it isn't a very comfortable experience and once that keeps happening almost every time you try to eat, it's not rare to see people giving up on meat and other previously loved food sources to alleviate themselves from the continuous pain and discomfort. In a way, losing your ability to properly chew food can potentially stop you from enjoying a very big part of your life.


Dental prosthetics with the proper dental implant to support it can dramatically change the life of someone who is missing teeth. However, it is important that the procedure is carried out by a reputable dentist like Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain. A lot depends on the skill of the dentist/dentists involved and it is a complex procedure; so, it is best to not take any risks with this one.  For a free consultation, you can make an appointment.

And the best news: dental implants have a success rate over 95%.

Keep smiling,





Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121