Search

Purpose. Among the many important outcomes of the 1985 National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) workshop on professionally administered oral hygiene procedures, were the conclusions that professional treatment (including scaling and root planing) in shallow sulci resulted in permanent loss of attachment, and that regular instrumentation should not be carried out at periodontal disease-free sites. The purpose of this paper is to examine studies related to the periodontal outcome of subgingival instrumentation in shallow sulci. Methods. Literature published between 1982 and 2000 was searched, using the Medline database, for original research papers and review articles that focused on an association between subgingival instrumentation in shallow sites and periodontal attachment loss. References cited in key papers were manually traced when not acquired otherwise. Results. Thirteen clinical studies--12 human and 1 animal--ranging in length from 6 months to 5 years, were selected for review. Periodontal attachment loss in shallow sulci (2.0mm have been reported following a single episode of subgingival instrumentation. Conclusions. Such findings suggest important implications for the dental hygiene clinical management and maintenance of periodontally healthy patients with shallow sulci, and warrant further study. Keywords. Periodontal instrumentation, periodontal attachment loss, subgingival instrumentation, probing depth., Introduction The fundamental periodontal conditions observed clinically are health, gingivitis, and periodontitis. In the individual dental patient, these conditions may be found separately, or in combination, and may be localized [...]

What your gums can reveal: is it true that I'm at risk for heart disease if my gums are unhealthy? JOSEPH E. PIZZORNO JR., N.D., REPLIES: The latest research does […]

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease has been shown to be associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Because coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) have similar pathophysiologies, we hypothesized that periodontal disease might be a risk factor for PVD. METHODS: Using the combined data from the Normative Aging Study and Dental Longitudinal Study of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, we examined the relationship between PVD and periodontal disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Over the 25 to 30 years of follow-up, 80 of these initially healthy subjects developed PVD. Compared with controls (n = 1,030), subjects with clinically significant periodontal disease at baseline had a 2.27 increment in the risk of developing PVD (95% confidence interval 1.32 to 3.9, P value = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease emerged as a significant independent risk factor for PVD in a multivariate analysis that adjusted for other established risk factors. Am J Surg. 1998;176:153-157. [C] 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.

Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) is required for proper metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrate. Low dietary intake of vitamin B-6 has been reported to be common in women, and both pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives have been reported to reduce blood levels of vitamin B-6. A deficiency of this vitamin is associated with altered protein metabolism, reduced enzyme activity, and the development of skin conditions (dermatitis and eczema), anemia, convulsive seizures, and abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs, which measure brain electrical activity). Studies performed in monkeys with vitamin B-6 deficiency showed an increase in dental caries (cavities) and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). To investigate further the effects of vitamin B-6 deficiency, eight healthy nonpregnant women followed a 12-day diet containing almost no vitamin B-6. Blood tests for vitamin B-6, dental examinations and EEGs were performed before and after the diet period. Following the diet period, two of the women had abnormal EEGs that returned to normal after adding vitamin B-6 to the diet. Blood levels of vitamin B-6 were reduced during the diet period, but there were no changes in the teeth or gums. This study represents the first report of EEG changes in women caused by following a diet deficient in vitamin B-6. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Pregnant women with chronic periodontal disease--a condition that loosens the attachment between the teeth, gums, and bone--are up to seven times more likely to give birth prematurely, according to a [...]

Background: Periodontal disease has been found to be a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease. However, its association with cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) is much less studied. Methods: This study examines the association between periodontal disease and CVA. The study cohort comprises 9962 adults aged 25 to 74 years who participated in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and its follow-up study. Baseline periodontal status was categorized into (1) no periodontal disease, (2) gingivitis, (3) periodontitis, and (4) edentulousness. All CVAs (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9], codes 430-438) were ascertained by hospital records for nonfatal events and death certificates for fatal events. The first CVA, nonfatal or fatal, was used to define incidence. Relative risks were estimated by hazard ratios from the Cox proportional hazard model with adjustment for several demographic variables and well-established cardiovascular risk factors. Weights were used to generate risk estimates. Results: Periodontitis is a significant risk factor for total CVA and, in particular, nonhemorrhagic stroke (ICD-9, 433-434 and 436-438). Compared with no periodontal disease, the relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for incident nonhemorrhagic stroke were 1.24 (0.74-2.08) for gingivitis, 2.11 (1.30-3.42) for periodontitis, and 1.41 (0.96-2.06) for edentulousness. For total CVA, the results were 1.02 (0.70-1.48) for gingivitis, 1.66 (1.15-2.39) for periodontitis, and 1.23 (0.91-1.66) for edentulousness. Increased relative risks for total CVA and nonhemorrhagic stroke associated with periodontitis were also seen in white men, white women, and African Americans. Similar results were found for fatal CVA. Conclusions: Periodontal disease is an important risk factor for total CVA and, in particular, nonhemorrhagic stroke. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:2749-2755

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. -- Evidence continues to mount linking periodontal disease to preterm birth. Interim results of the ongoing Oral Conditions and Pregnancy study indicated that pregnant women with periodontal [...]

WASHINGTON -- The evidence linking periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease is strong enough that the risk should be discussed with patients who have gum disease, several speakers agreed at a [...]

Patients referred to periodontists often are unaware they have undiagnosed and uncontrolled health problems, some of which can affect their oral health and dental treatment, according to a University of [...]

DENTAL INSURERS ARE HOPING ADVISORS will help them keep the recession from knocking the teeth out of boomer clients' mouths. Typical boomer financial services clients get dental coverage from their [...]

NEW YORK -- A thorough oral care regimen may not only result in healthy teeth and strong gums, but a healthy heart and circulatory system as well, according to a [...]