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Restoring the health of teeth and gums is the science of periodontal disease therapy. The infection of the gums and
supportive tissues surrounding the teeth (periodontal disease) can be controlled and in some cases even reversed.
Working as a treatment team with your general dentist we can help restore your mouth to a healthier condition and
improve the chance of preserving your teeth.
In July of 1998, the American Academy of Periodontology launched an effort to educate the public about new findings
which support what dental professionals had long suspected: Infections in the mouth can play havoc elsewhere in the body.
Since July of 1998, evidence has continued to mount to support these links. While more research needs to be done to say
definitively that people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled
diabetes, preterm births and respiratory disease, periodontists do know that periodontal disease is a bacterial infection,
and all infections are cause for concern.
Periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs and begin new infections. Research is
suggesting that this may:
- Contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death
- Increase the risk of stroke
- Increase a woman's risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby
- Pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis
Don't Ignore Your Oral Health If you value your oral as well as your overall health, a periodontal evaluation is a
good idea. Sometimes the only way to detect periodontal disease is through a periodontal evaluation.
A periodontal evaluation may be especially important if you:
- Notice any symptoms of periodontal disease
- Have heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease or osteoporosis
- Are thinking of becoming pregnant
- Have a family member with periodontal disease. Research suggests that the bacteria that cause periodontal disease
can pass through saliva. This means the common contact of saliva in families puts children and couples at risk for
contracting the periodontal disease of another family member
- Have a sore or irritation in your mouth that does not get better within two weeks
Fortunately, periodontal disease therapy and treatment is available, but as in all dental care cases, the early you
treat periodontal problems the quicker and less painful the treatment.
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