VARIABLES TO PERIODONTAL THERAPY

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Variables that may compromise periodontal therapy or have an effect on you may include:

Systemic Health
Nutritional Intake
Ability to Absorb Nutrients
Alcohol
Caffeine
Smoking
Medications or Drugs
Stress Levels
Hormonal Therapy
Trauma from Malocclusion
Faulty Dentistry
Food Impaction
Mouth Breathing
Calculus
Body Chemistry

Preventing Recurring Periodontal Disease

Prevention of gum disease for the 75-80% of us who have (had) some form of gingivitis or periodontitis really means preventing it from recurring once we have it under control. Regular dental visits, once again, is one of the top things to do. The dental hygienist and dentist can tailor the frequency of visits to the individual person. Also, the more frequently you visit us, the more need for a personalized home care program to meet your specific needs. And, the dental team can give advice on selecting dental products that will work best for each individual. www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp
Homecare is a MAJOR factor in controlling gum disease. Morning, midday, and evening. Floss, brush and usually rubbertip. A good fluoride toothpaste should be used as well as a fluoride mouthrinse. Most people in this situation have recession, and fluoride helps protect the root surfaces.
Eat a well balanced diet, and exercise as often as possible. And, once again, stay away from tobacco products.

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Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease

The risk factors that increase the chance of developing Periodontal Disease (PD) are many. Some of the major ones are:

**Genetics – Some people have a greater genetic predisposition to developing a more aggressive, severe type of Periodontal Disease. People with a family history of tooth loss and dentures should be diligent in their efforts to control PD.

**Tobacco – People that chew or smoke tobacco have a greater chance to develop PD, and the effects are usually greater – deeper gum pockets due to increased amounts of plaque and tartar; more loss of bone and soft tissue that support the teeth.

**Medical Conditions – Systemic (the whole body) diseases such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, blood cell disorders, and AIDS, and the treatment for some of these, can lower one’s resistance to infections, making PD more severe.

**Stress – Stress reduces the body’s natural defenses, including the ability to fight off infection. Thus, when under stress, you have an increased chance of developing PD.

**Medications – An increasing number of drugs (antidepressants, steroids, blood pressure drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some heart medications, some anti-epilepsy drugs) can decrease the saliva flow creating a drier mouth than normal. Saliva has a cleansing and protective effect on the gums and teeth. A lack of saliva allows plaque to accumulate on the teeth and gums and cause inflammation and decay.

**Hormonal Changes in Females – Puberty, pregnancy and oral contraceptives change the body’s hormone levels. These changes cause the gums to become hypersensitive to the slightest levels of plaque and tartar.

**Ill-fitting Dentistry – Old fillings, crowns, and bridges may harbor more plaque and increase the liklihood of developing periodontal disease.

**Crowded Teeth – The tongue rubbing on the back side of the teeth, and the cheeks and lips rubbing on the front side of the teeth, have a self-cleansing effect on the teeth. When the teeth are crowded and overlapped, this self-cleansing doesn’t happen very well, and there is an increased chance of decay and gum problems due to plaque retention.

**Insurance Dependency – People that count on their insurance for all the answers are often the patients with the most problems – gum problems, decay problems, and missing teeth problems. The insurance companies write the rule on whether they will have to pay out some of your premium dollars to help get you healthier. If you need to have your teeth cleaned 4 times a year and your insurance only pays for 2 times a year, it does NOT mean you can only get your teeth cleaned twice a year. DON’T be insurance dependent. In today’s market you want to maximize your insurance. But, insurance allowance is a help in covering some of the cost of treatment, not a pay-all.