Dental Implant Maintenance

Dental implants are a serious process and decision. Therefore, it is imperative that once an implant(s) is placed, it is maintained and cared for properly. Hygienists play an important role in the maintenance of dental implants. At each re-care appointment the dental hygienist should conduct a complete assessment of the implant. They should check the surrounding gum tissue for inflammation, bleeding and mobility. The implant should be scaled, preferably before the other natural teeth because studies have shown that the bacteria from the natural teeth can be transferred to the implant and cause damage. It is important that the implant and surrounding gum tissue is properly cared for at home and at the dental office to ensure the longevity of the implant and because plaque build-up on implants has been linked to bone loss. The hygienist should therefore also explain to the patient specific instructions for home care at the end of each re-care appointment.
We are so happy to have Annika as the new hygienist in our office. With her expert help and care, we can insure that we are maintaining our patient's dental implants to the best of our ability. We feel that it is extremely important to care for restorations appropriately in insure their ultimate longevity for our patients. This is beneficial for the oral and overall health of the patient and their pocket books.

Treating Gum Disease In Mothers

Treating gum disease in pregnant women and nursing mothers has long been a taboo issue. As it usually goes, if you are unsure of the affects, avoid it. But a new study conducted shows that pregnant women and nursing mothers can be treated for gum disease without having to worry that it will affect their baby's health. The original concern was that when the mother was being treated for gum disease with aggressive teeth cleaning, such as scaling and root planing, bacteria would be released into the mother's bloodstream and affect the health of the developing baby. Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, a dentist at The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis, and his colleagues conducted a study where they tested 400 two-year-olds who had been born to mothers with gum disease. Half of the mothers had been treated with aggressive teeth cleaning and half had not. The conclusion? "Women can be confident that it's not going to have clinically meaningful effects on their child's development," said Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, whose findings are published in the journal Pediatrics. The study didn't show, however, that treating the gum disease in the mother benefited the child.
What should we take from this new study? Periodontal disease is serious and needs to be treated with urgency. Now mothers, who may have put off treatment of their gum disease because of the concern it would affect their babies, can now feel confident about continuing treatment. Even though the study did not show it would improve the health of the baby, it will improve the oral and overall health of the mother. (Although Dr. Jeffcoat a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia stated that the study couldn't completely rule out that treatment might benefit the baby in some cases. And there have been studies that link periodontal disease to low birth weight in babies.) So, first and foremost, for pregnant and nursing mothers as well as everyone else, the primary goal is prevention. Brush and floss properly everyday to avoid gum disease. But in the case you do end up with gum disease, which pregnant woman seem to be more susceptible to because of hormonal changes, pregnant and nursing mothers do not have to, or shouldn't, put treatment on the back-burner.

First Annual AAOSCH Scientific Meeting

Hello everyone. As a founding member of AAOSCH, American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, I am very excited to be attending our first annual meeting on June 24-25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. There is clear evidence of the link between periodontal disease and other health issues such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes; therefore, it is imperative that each care provider be aware of the seriousness of early diagnosis and early treatment of both heart disease and chronic infections such as periodontal disease.

This meeting will be extremely helpful in connecting medical and dental professionals in their quest for prevention of these serious diseases. The goal is to create a working partnership between the medical and dental communities, helping each to identify and understand their role in this prevention and treatment.

As my role as dentist, I am looking forward to learning how to best partner with medical physicians in order to provide my patients the best possible care.

The course objectives are as follows:

• To show that both systemic health and oral health are important to save the lives of our patients that are at risk for arterial disease, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

• To show the scientific evidence that the body is interconnected and that disease at any location may present risk to all areas of the body: not just the area affected.

• To help create a strategy of early intervention for all health care professionals in the earlier diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Including …

• When should a dentist refer a patient to a physician? Why?

• When should a physician refer a patient to a dentist? Why?

• What tests will the physician run?

• What tests will the dentist run?

• What risks do these combined tests and evaluations equate to regarding heart disease, stroke and diabetes?

• Who should each clinician refer to?

• To show the cumulative effect of many sources of inflammation that may increase risk: Including the oral / systemic connection.

• To help create a community of physicians and dentists that understands how to evaluate risk, to communicate with each other, and to effectively treat these patients.

The panel of speakers for this meeting is very impressive, including:

Bradley Bale, MD

Amy Doneen, RN, BSN, MSN, ARNP

Thomas W. Nabors, DDS, F.A.C.D

Casey Hein, RDH, BSDH, MBA

Duane Keller, DMD - Chief Scientific Officer for Perio Protect LLC

G. Lee Ostler, DDS

Robert Maccario, MBA

I am happy to see that more and more medical and dental professionals are understanding the importance of oral systemic health and are altering the care they provide to adapt to this new information. I feel it is equally important to share this information with my patients, in order for them to make the best possible decisions regarding their health and future. I am looking forward to reporting back to you after I have attended this meeting with further information!

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Rick Stickney