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Archive for the ‘periodontology’ Category

Good dentist, bad dentist

Posted by Dental News Team On February - 22 - 2010

Wouldn’t you like to know whether your dentist is good or bad?

We assume you do, which is why this week we are going to tell you all about what to consider when looking for a dentist and how to find a good one.

As usual, we will provide you with an overview of this week’s main topic!

  1. Good dentist – the cost estimate
  2. Dentists and their teams
  3. Hygiene in the dentist’s office
  4. Explaining procedures
  5. Trouble-shooting

Good dentist – the cost estimate
First of all, does your dentist even bother giving you a cost estimate?
No? Then s/he has no idea what s/he is doing!

If yes, how is the estimate structures?
Did you get a thorough check-up before you got the estimate? You should know what has to be done in your case and what will only be performed to fill the dentist’s pockets. What are we going on about? Well, in order for the dentist to provide you with a good cost estimate, s/he needs to have a good idea of the current status of your teeth and mouth.

If s/he does not bother performing a check-up, then it is likely s/he will only do things that cost a lot, namely implants and crowns.

You can always tell good estimates from bad ones, because good estimates always provide detailed information, which is collected during a check-up (assuming, of course, that your mouth really needs an overhaul, not just one bridge or implant if your teeth and mouth are otherwise healthy, otherwise, what would be the point of collecting data!).

A good cost estimate includes:

  • An anamnesis (medical history) / Patient’s request
  • Findings
  • Diagnosis
  • Recommendations for therapy / Alternatives
  • Description of procedures as needed

This information lets the dentist know what you wish to be done, the condition of your teeth (periodontal status, photos, models of your teeth, …), anything and everything you’ll need to set up a treatment plan.
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The cost estimate should consider all kinds of work, even work which is less lucrative to the dentist. This includes fillings, root canal treatment, operations such as removing wisdom teeth, etc.

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But this is the kind of work which should usually be done first, before doing more complicated procedures – you should make sure the ground is in good shape before you start building houses on it (crowns, implants etc.).

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Summing up, a simple cost estimate can and should tell you quite a lot!

  • If your dentist offers you any treatment without performing a thorough check-up first, then chances are that s/he is only going to do things which cost the most money!
  • If the cost estimate starts out with an extensive check-up, then you’re on the right path!
  • If a cost estimate begins with the least expensive types of treatment (renewed root treatment, removing wisdom teeth, periodontal work, …) with dentures (crowns, bridges) last on the list, then stick with that dentist!

More on this topic tomorrow, and by the end of the week you should be able to tell a good dentist from all others!

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cosmetic-dentistry endodontology general topics implantology oral surgery orthodontics periodontology prostethics
cosmetic-dentistry, endodontology, general topics, implantology, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontology, prostethics

Periodontitis and Pregnancy

Posted by Dental News Team On January - 8 - 2010

Pregnancy is a biological phase in a woman’s life accompanied by intense hormonal changes

The rise in female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, directly affects the periodont, since the gums possess estrogen and progesterone receptors.

This way, existing inflammations of the gums (bleeding gums) can be exacerbated or more easily triggered during pregnancy. Recent studies show that if periodontitis goes untreated, this can be a risk factor leading to premature birth, and should thus be treated as soon as possible.
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schwangerIn periodontitis, various bacterial substances are released from the gums. These substances cause our immune system to release greater numbers of antibodies  – called cytokines.
Amniotic fluid has been shown to contain cytokines, and there is a connection between the rise in cytokines and premature contractions.
Experiments on golden hamsters have shown that certain cytokines for gram-negative bacteria can, depending on dosage, lead to lower birth weight and even birth defects!
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Nowadays we know that periodontitis can make the risk of premature birth 7.5 times higher.

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Moreover, studies indicate a connection between periodontitis and premature babies with low birth weight.
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There is a trend towards non-surgical periodontitis treatment, which has been shown to have a positive effect on the course of pregnancy.

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Source: 2009_ paro_schwangerschaft (perio pregnancy)

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general topics periodontology
general topics, periodontology

Are cysts the fault of the jaw, the dentist, or the patient?

Posted by Dental News Team On December - 4 - 2009

What are cysts, how do they form, and why do we only get them in certain places?

CystThere are many different types of jaw cysts. A cyst is an empty bubble wrapped in a thin membrane and found inside an organ or tissue.

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Jaw cysts are found inside the bone, which is why they are often called bone cysts, or hard-body cysts. A distinction is made between congenital or acquired jaw cysts.

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For example, follicle, globulo-maxillary and median lower jaw cysts are congenital cysts.

Periodontal or reticular cysts, on the other hand, are acquired.
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Cysts are named according to the tissue they originated in, which also provides a clue as to how they form.

Let’s take a look at reticular cysts, which are usually caused by faulty root treatment. For example, if the roots were not filled to the tip, then cysts can form there even years later.

How?

Well, if root canal tissue was left over after treatment, it starts to rot and causes an inflammation in the bone. And this can stimulate tissue to grow.

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Details on reticular cysts in this video!

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oral surgery periodontology
oral surgery, periodontology

Periodontitis, oral cancer and overall health – Pt 2

Posted by Dental News Team On November - 24 - 2009

I part one you read all about how defensines affect our overall health, but the connection is even more complex!

Our cells use various substakrebszellences to communicate with each other – the general term being “cytokines“. These cytokines activate signal paths in the cells.

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You can look at it this way: Cell A (an immune cell) tells Cell B (a cell in the mucous membrane of the mouth) – “produce more mucus, since there are bacteria around”. But Cell A does not really speak to Cell B, but pours out signal molecules  – called cytokines.

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Like a key and lock system, these cytokines activate signal paths in Cell B which lead to an increased production of mucus. Think of these signal paths as a factory, in which the boss gives an instruction to the foreman, who then proceeds to shout it into a microphone. The employees hurry up and change into their uniforms, etc. … this is exactly what takes place in the cell – a cascade of signals. When the cascade is over, the organelles in the cell produce more mucus!

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Researchers have discovered that in cases of periodontitis, bacteria in the gum pockets activate the same signal paths as are activated in oral cancer,so there is very likely to be a connection between these illnesses.

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Source: 2009_ Parodontitis Mundkrebs und Allgemeingesundheit (periodontitis, oral cancer and overall health)

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general topics periodontology
general topics, periodontology

Periodontitis, oral cancer and overall health

Posted by Dental News Team On November - 24 - 2009

Are periodontitis, oral cancer and overall health in any way related?

They are!
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krebszelleOur immune system continuously produces substances (loaded proteins, called defensines) which target bacteria, fungi and viruses. Immune cells inject these defensines into bodily fluids, and this “Defensine Cocktail” protects us from attack by bacteria, fungi and/or viruses.
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In evolutionary terms, defensines appeared about the same time as the insects, so they represent a very old component of our immune system, and can be found throughout the animal kingdom. For example, the immune cells make sure a high concentration of these proteins gets into the fluid around the eyes, the saliva, lungs, vaginal fluid etc. Wherever our bodies are faced with invasion, these proteins go!
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But defensine production only runs smoothly in a healthy „household“. This means the well-balanced functioning of our organs, e.g. non-microbial digestion takes place in the small intestine, while microbial digestion takes place in the large intestine. This makes the large intestine an organ of fermentation, and if the small and large intestines don’t „coordinate“ their functions, this can have harmful results on defensine production. The lower the level of defensines, the less protection against micro-organisms.

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What causes an imbalance? Well, a carbohydrate allergy can lead to excessive fermentation in the large intestine. This means an excess of gas, which causes the intestine to blow up like a balloon, to the point where the passage between the large and small intestines no longer closes properly, which enables bacteria to move between the intestines. This results in an inflammation of the small intestine, and along with the reduced production of defensine, years later this can lead to bowel cancer.
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But the connection is even more complex than this – in Part II you will find out just how!

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Source: 2009_ Parodontitis Mundkrebs und Allgemeingesundheit (periodontitis, oral cancer and overall health)

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general topics periodontology
general topics, periodontology