Gum Disease Michigan | www.drnemeth.com | 248-357-3100 | Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Periodontist

The American Academy of Periodontology
September 2007

Congratulations! You are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant! Whether or not you want it, everyone you know will be giving you advice about how to eat, sleep, exercise, and take care of your body during this exciting time. However, what some might forget is the importance of taking care of your oral health.

Good oral health is always important. However, it may be especially important for expecting mothers as recent research suggests that pregnant women with periodontal diseases may be up to seven times more likely to have a baby that’s born too early and too small. Preterm births are dangerous for both baby and mother. They are the leading cause of neonatal death and can lead to life-long health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and difficulties with blindness and lung disease.

The likely culprit of this possible connection is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin. Very high levels of prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

In addition, other research has identified bacteria commonly found in the mouth and associated with periodontal disease in the amniotic fluid of some pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is a liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy. Any disruptions in the amniotic fluid, such as a bacterial infection, could potentially be dangerous to both the mother and baby.

Don’t panic! Take your concerns to your dental professional. If you’re diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist might recommend a common nonsurgical procedure called scaling and root planning. During this procedure, your tooth-root surfaces are cleaned to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. Research suggests that scaling and root planning may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease by up to 84 percent.

If you have questions regarding the link between periodontal disease and pre-term low birth weight babies, visit the American Academy of Periodontology website at http://www.perio.org/ or visit Michigan Periodontist, Dr. Joseph Nemeth on the web at http://www.drnemeth.com/. To request a copy of this AAP article, call Dr. Nemeth at 248.357.3100.

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A twin study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology found that daily flossing combined with tooth and tongue brushing, significantly reduces the amount of periodontal disease-causing bacteria in the mouth

The study was carried out at New York University and included 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21. Each twin set was randomly assigned a two-week treatment regimen with one twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and the other brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and flossing. At the end of the two-week trial, samples were taken from each pairs of twins and compared for levels f bacteria commonly associated with periodontal disease. The result showed that those twins who did not floss had significantly more bacteria associated with periodontal disease in comparison with his/her counterpart who had flossed.

Growths which occur within the mouth can often be successfully treated and removed with a non-invasive surgical procedure and/or laser treatment. The causes or etiology of these lesions, aberrations or oral growths Michigan are numerous.

A pregnancy tumor is a swelling of gum tissue which often looks like a reddened lump with many deep red pinpoint markings on it. The tumor is non-cancerous and usually painless; however, it can become painful if it interferes with your bite or if debris collect beneath it. Through a non-invasive surgical procedure, the pregnancy tumor is removed. Notice there is very little bleeding and no need for sutures.

To see more cases like this visit follow this link to our squidoo lens photo gallery or browse to our practice website at http://www.drnemeth.com/.

Questions? Call 248.357.3100 or ask the Michigan Periodontist.

Recently Michigan Periodontal Practice, Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Associates recently acquired the Millennium PerioLase laser. This is the lastest generation of the Nd:YAG laser and is designed specifically to treat periosontal disease. Like LASIK surgery for the eyes, this patented and FDA-approved laser therapy allows us to treat the disease in a minimally invasive procedure, in some cases eliminating the need for conventional periodontal surgery.

In 1990, Southfield Periodontis, Dr. Joseph Nemeth became one of the first periodontists in the nation to use lasers. In fact, the first dental laser was invented by a Birmingham, Michigan company. While the early dental lasers were very limited in what they could do, dental lasers such as the state-of-the-art Millenium Periolase can now be used effectively to reach down into the pockets to help eliminate inflamed tissue and destroy bacteria.

Also like LASIK eye surgeons, who need more than one laser to treat different eye problems, Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Associates has many different types of lasers for many different types of treatment. Each has its own distinct wavelength, and each is paricularly suited for certain specialized procedures.

Laser surgery provides another treatment option when scaling and root planing is not enough and patients either do not want or who are not good candidates for conventional surgery. Now Dr. Nemeth can save teeth that would have had to be extracted in the past. For many patients, laser surgery may provide a realistic alternative to traditional gum surgery with comparable results.

The patient benefits of laser therapy can include less pain, recession, bleeding, and root sensitivity, as well as minimal swelling and downtime after treatment. All these benefits can be achieved in only one visit since the laser therapy usually includes scaling during the same visit. Of course, like conventional treatment, maintenance visits will be necessary following laser treatment.

An additional benefit of laser surgery is the antibacterial effect that helps to disinfect periodontal pockets. The new Millennium PerioLase laser is designed to target the bad, black-pigmented bacteria and is able to vaporize these bacteria, eliminating them on contact.

For patients who are concerned about conventional surgery for periodontal disease, the new laser treatment can be a life-changing event. Patients can save their teeth, preserve their natural smiles, and avoid some potentially life-threatening systemic effects of bacteria from untreated perodontal disease. Laser treatment gives these patients another option.

Think you may want to learn more about the laser alternative to periodontal surgery? Please call 248.357.3100 to reach Michigan Periodontists and Dental Implant Specialists Drs. Nemeth, Becker and Katranji or email us at info@drnemeth.com. See photos of laser periodontal treatment at http://www.drnemeth.com/.