Oral health and heart health, the mouth-body connection

The connection between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease encourages cardiologists and periodontists to work together to ensure your health.

Gum disease and cardiovascular disease are two major public health issues that impact a large number of Americans and Canadians every day. Cardiovascular or heart disease contributes to 2,400 deaths per day, while gum or periodontal disease affects nearly 75 percent of Americans. Despite impacting separate areas of the body, research has indicated that periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease may be connected. In fact, according to Dr. Dana Levy, Periodontist, having one of these diseases may actually increase your risk of developing the other.

“Both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are considered inflammatory diseases, and inflammation is the common mechanism that connects them,” says Dr. Dana Levy. “Inflammation is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection. Although it is initially good for you because it helps in the healing process, exposure to chronic and prolonged inflammation can lead to severe health complications. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are both examples of ensuing complications from inflammation.”

Periodontal disease is caused by a chronic inflammatory response to bacteria under the gums and around the teeth. The bacteria irritate the gums and generate this inflammatory response which over time can break down and destroy the gums and bone that support the teeth. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those without periodontal disease.

Because of this connection, it is imperative that periodontists, dentists with advanced training in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, and cardiologists, doctors who specialize in treating diseases of the heart, work together to provide the best care to patients. A recent consensus paper developed in concert by periodontists and cardiologists summarizes the evidence that links periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, and provides clinical recommendations for both specialties to use in managing their patients living with, or at risk for, either disease.

Because of these clinical recommendations, your next visit to your periodontist or cardiologist may change slightly. You might be surprised when your periodontist now asks even more questions about your medical history, especially about your family history of heart disease and any behaviors that may affect your heart health such as smoking. Your cardiologist may start to ask you about your dental history and might even look in your mouth to evaluate your teeth and gums! Asking these new questions is an important step that health professionals can take to work together to ensure their patients’ health. “Periodontists and cardiologists are starting to work together to better manage their patients’ risk factors for future disease progression,” says Dr. Dana Levy. “It is important that periodontists and cardiologists collaborate to control the inflammatory burden in the body as a result of gum disease or heart disease, thereby helping to reduce further disease progression, and ultimately improve patients’ overall health.”

For more information on the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, the consensus paper, or tips on how to prevent or treat gum disease, visit www.perio.org., http://www.dentistryondundas.com/Home.htm, email: perio@dentistryondundas.com or Heart and Stroke Foundation

2011 Dentistry on Dundas Scholarship Recipients!

Straighten your teeth with Invisalign

At Dentistry on Dundas you can straighten your teeth with Invisalign! Invisalign is a series of smooth, clear and comfortable aligner trays. That means you can continue doing all the things you normally would, from brushing and flossing, to eating whatever you like. With other devices, eating, brushing and flossing properly can often be more difficult!

Check out the results one of our patients achieved below!

Before

After

Special occasion coming up? No problem - just take your aligners out for that time and pop them back in when you're ready. Of course, even when you're wearing them, most people won't even know you're going through orthodontic treatment, because they are virtually invisible!

Invisalign is also ideal for your busy schedule, with fewer doctor visits required (approximately every six weeks) and most insurance companies will pick-up part of the cost!

Before

After

Welcome Dr. Gabriella Garisto, Providing Dental Anaesthesia

 Dentistry While you Sleep!

Are you afraid of the dentist? You are not alone, 40% of the population avoids the dentist out of fear, but you no longer need to be afraid. Dr. Garisto can help ease your fears and make it possible to attend to your much needed dental care. Poor dental health not only affects your overall health, but also your self esteem. Wish you could make that first step? Well you can, simply call us today at 905-666-1555. Young or old we can help!

Dr. Gabriella Garisto holds a Masters in Dental Anaesthesiology and is one of the few dentists in our province who holds a board certified specialty status in this area of expertise. Dr. Garisto graduated from the University of Toronto Doctor of Dental Surgery program with honours. She was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honour Society and has won awards and scholarships in the areas of pain control and patient management, as well as in preventive dentistry. Her subsequent three years of training in the Masters Dental Anaesthesia program included major rotations at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Toronto East General Hospital. In addition to providing dental and anaesthetic care for Dentistry on Dundas, Dr. Garisto is an Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Dental Anaesthesia at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. In her spare time Gabriella enjoys cooking and travelling.

If you have been avoiding the dentist give us a call today, it's that easy! 905-666-1555. You can sleep your fears away at Dentistry on Dundas!

Dentistry on Dundas Fireworks! July 23, 2011

Implant Dentistry Day Three

Using this advanced technology will make your dental surgery more effective and comfortable for you.

As they say, sadly, 'all good things must come to an end' and certainly this conference and my stay in Lugano has come to an end.

Day 3 has been a shorter one, packed with back to back short sessions by clinicians showing the use of 'Ultrasonic Bone Surgery' using the piezoelectric machine in all different aspects of Oral, Periodontal and Maxillofacial surgery. I will not go into all technical details, but I can definitely say that the way we will do bone surgery from now on, will be different than what has been done so far, providing we have available this great machine that has all the advantages mentioned so far.

The piezosurgery system uses ultrasound waves to cut bone without damaging soft tissue. Whereas traditional methods of bone-cutting, such as drills and burs, result in some tissue and bone loss regardless of the dentist’s precision, piezosurgery technology eliminates this risk. This means I am able to perform procedures such as crown lengthening, ridge expansion, periodontal therapy, and implant site preparation with increased accuracy and minimal discomfort.

The fact that its so precise and does not cut soft tissues, the possibilities are endless. I can now shape the bone better, go in between teeth without risking the health of the teeth, the inserts are so fine. The indications and possibilities of use are just greater than I thought! I feel privileged to have this machine at our office and have it at my disposal for treating my patients.

So, in conclusion, it has been a great trip and learning experience, tiring, but energizing and inspiring to come on Monday morning and share all of this with my fellow colleagues at Dentistry on Dundas.

Ciao!!!

 

Implant Dentistry Day Two

A Revolutionary Technique for Minimally Invasive Implant Surgery.

 To all my esteemed colleagues at Dentistry on Dundas and our great patients, I have to say that it has been an excellent and productive day! Not only is the glorious weather helping out, and the beautiful flower beds remind us of what is to come once spring finally arrives, the program today really made my trip all the more worthwhile.

I had the chance of attending a workshop which was hands-on and given by two of the most respected Oral Surgeons in Italy. The workshop allowed me to practice in a pig's jaw (I know, sounds gross but its the way we all learn) the way that our machine inserts work when opening up the holes before placing an implant. Its so precise and smooth that its incredible how little pressure we need to use for the bone to be ready. Its exciting to have this technology available in our office. Also, one of the most important reasons why this machine is so cool to use, is the fact that it doesn't cut soft tissue (such as a nerve or a sinus membrane). So, when the bone is too short either in the upper jaw or lower jaw, we can safely use it to prepare the sinus for an implant placement, or, when we are close to the nerve in the lower jaw, there's no risk of doing any nerve damage (especially if we continue with our very diligent efforts to prepare our patients with the right xrays).

Tomorrow, I look forward as well to a new technique which will allow to use this machine to prepare our patients who will have braces in order to speed up the process of their treatment and save up to 6 months of treatment. An exciting development I really look forward to learning about.

I leave you as well with a beautiful vista of Lugano. To learn more about Dr. Levy Click here
Ciao!!!