For several years the dentists at Southern California Dental Health Associates have been telling our patients about what has been called the Oral Systemic Link. There has been a growing body of science to show a link between gum disease and heart disease. Now, in concert with one another, both the American Journal of Cardiology and the American Academy of Periodontology have come out with strong recommendations in dealing with their patients who are at risk for either heart or gum disease.
Some of the specific recommendations are as follows
Patients with gum disease (periodontitis) who have one known major atherosclerotic CVD (Cardiovascular Disease) risk factor such as smoking, immediate family history for CVD, or a history of increased amounts of lipids in the blood should consider a medical evaluation if they have not done so in the last 12 months.
A periodontal evaluation should be considered in patients with atherosclerotic CVD who have: signs or symptoms of gum disease (THE NUMBER ONE SIGN IS USUALLY BLEEDING GUMS), significant tooth loss and unexplained elevation of hs-CRP or other inflammatory biomarkers.
IT BOILS DOWN TO THIS. Both heart and gum disease are inflammatory diseases. Untreated chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the affected tissues (This is the cause of both gum tissue and bone loss secondary to the bacterial infection of gum disease).
And this is only the tip of the iceberg, there are potentially multiple relationships between the chronic inflammation of gum disease and other systemic disease in the body.
For years the motto at SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES has been, the healthier the mouth, the healthier your body.
If you know anyone who has recently discovered they have, or are at high risk for heart disease let them know we can help them. We are centrally located in the Olympia Medical Center at 5901 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 205, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Our phone number is 323-934-3341. You can visit us on the web at www.socaldentalhealth.com
SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR PATIENTS: Mention this blog and get off 10% up to $100.00 off of any previoiusly diagnosed dentistry to get you back into the swing of it at our new office. Offer expires July 15th , 2009