Tuesday, May 22, 2018

'Giant' Problem Looms for Aging Generation

If you have an aging parent or loved one and you participate in their health care, take special note.

In a very interesting study, the first of its kind in the world, researchers at a prestigious New Zealand university surveyed the oral health of people living in aged residential care and found those with dementia, and older men in general, have dirtier and more decayed teeth.


Otago University Head of Department of Oral Sciences and lead author, Professor Murray Thomson, describes poor oral health as one of the "geriatric giants" with the situation a "major clinical and public health problem which is going to get worse."  Older people have higher rates of cognitive and physical impairments that can adversely affect their oral self-care and complicate the provision of oral care, the study found.  They said:


                  "Neither the aged care sector nor the dental profession, in most countries, is

                   prepared. Not only do we have more and more older people every year, but 
                   more and more people are entering old age with their own teeth, rather than
                   full dentures, as was the situation just a couple of decades ago.

                   "In some ways, dentistry has been a victim of its success -- we have long 

                   emphasized the idea of 'teeth for life' without much thought to what happens
                   towards the end of life."

Of those examined in the study (representative of the more than 14,000 New Zealanders living in aged care), recently published in the journal "Gerodontology," about half had severely impaired cognitive function, and more than a third required fillings or extractions.  Those with severely impaired cognitive function had greater numbers of teeth with decay. They also had higher oral debris scores, reflecting poorer daily oral hygiene care.


The study found greater rates of tooth decay can result in dental and facial infections, poorer quality of life, malnutrition and difficulties in communication.  The researchers also found that even the most cognitively impaired participants were able to be examined fairly easily, meaning that regular, routine removal of oral debris by carers should not be difficult.

To be sure, this situation exists all over the world.  

It's a very complex situation involving a lot of players -- the insurers, Medicare, the dental profession, and the public.  I know from my own experience that as they age, many people need help from their adult children or caretakers in making health care decisions, or even getting to the office of a practitioner.


Anecdotally, I’ve had many patients who had come to me for years, but as they aged and became more frail, I would see them less because their children didn’t think they’d need to see the dentist unless they had a complaint.  They simply don’t realize that this can have traumatic impact on the dental health of their parent, who may have a spiraling of oral disease and other systemic disease, which can feed off each the inflammatory bacteria present in both.  


Moreover, older adults are usually on many medications, a lot of which can have the side effect of drying the mouth, which makes the prospect of oral disease increase dramatically.


If you’re the child or caretaker of an older person who hasn’t had a dental appointment in the past six months, you should remind them to make one, help them make one and/or drive them to one.   It’s important for their good health, their appearance, their confidence, and quality of life. 

Our West Hartford Center office is fully ADA compliant, with free off-street handicapped parking, an elevator, and is easy in and out of.  Contact us to set up an appointment, or give us a call at 860-561-2121 today!

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

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Midlife Tooth Loss Linked to Coronary Risk


Losing two or more teeth in middle age is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's 2018 scientific sessions, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

Previous research has found that dental health issues are associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. However, most of that research looked at cumulative tooth loss over a lifetime, which often includes teeth lost in childhood due to cavities, trauma and orthodontics. Tooth loss in middle age is more likely related to inflammation, but it hasn't been clear how this later-in-life tooth loss might influence cardiovascular disease risk.

Losing two or more teeth during middle age is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk


Having fewer natural teeth by middle age is linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk.



In a collaboration between Tulane University School of Public Health and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, researchers analyzed the impact of tooth loss in large studies of adults, aged 45 to 69 years, in which participants had reported on the numbers of natural teeth they had, then in a follow-up questionnaire, reported recent tooth loss. Adults in this analysis didn't have cardiovascular disease when the studies began. The researchers prospectively studied the occurrence of tooth loss during an eight-year period and followed an incidence of cardiovascular disease among people with no tooth loss, one tooth lost and two or more teeth lost over 12-18 years.

They found:
  • Among the adults with 25 to 32 natural teeth at the study's start, those who lost two or more teeth had a 23 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to those with no tooth loss.
  • The increased risk occurred regardless of reported diet quality, physical activity, body weight and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • There wasn't a notable increase in cardiovascular disease risk among those who reported losing one tooth during the study period.
  • Cardiovascular disease risk among all the participants (regardless of the number of natural teeth at the study's start) increased 16 percent among those losing two or more teeth during the study period, compared to those who didn't lose any teeth.
  • Adults with less than 17 natural teeth, versus 25 to 32, at the study's start, were 25 percent more likely to have cardiovascular disease.

Clearly, the findings suggest that middle-aged adults who have lost two or more teeth in recent past could be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. That's regardless of the number of natural teeth a person has at middle-aged adult, or whether they have traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as poor diet or high blood pressure.

Take Steps to Reduce Tooth-Loss Risk


Armed with the knowledge that tooth loss in middle age can signal elevated cardiovascular disease risk, adults can take steps to reduce the increased risk early on:

Eat Right with a Tooth Healthy Diet

Your diet builds strong, healthy teeth – and a sound body to boot. Make sure your diet is low in sugar and high in a variety of nutrients. Teeth are also particularly vulnerable to acidic drinks, which wash over enamel and erode tooth surfaces. Try to build your daily dining around dairy, lean proteins, fruit and vegetables with crunchy textures, and drink plenty of water.

Brush at least 2x Daily – the Right Way

When was the last time you had a brushing refresher? It’s always a good idea to check in on your technique. The better your brushing, the less time you spend over the sink and the fewer the cavities that pop up at exams.

Don’t Skip the Floss

Many of us feel like we don’t have time for flossing. But if you’re getting serious about avoiding tooth loss, you need to make time. Flossing removes bacteria from areas between the teeth that might not be accessible with a toothbrush. It may also help strengthen the gums to prevent gingivitis. Once floss feels like a part of your routine, it will be easy to check it off your list each day.

Treat Your Teeth with Respect

Your enamel may be strong, but it’s not indestructible. Treat your teeth gently and don’t abuse them by chewing on anything other than food. If you struggle with bruxism, be sure to wear a night guard so that clenching and grinding don’t erode your teeth.

Check in with Your Oral Health

Your teeth will tell you when something is wrong – and you know them better than anyone else. If something seems like it’s changing, set up an appointment to make sure everything’s ok.

It’s never too early to set up your next dental exam. Contact us to set up an appointment, or give us a call at 860-561-2121 today!

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