Periodontal Disease and Obesity

Many medical professionals consider obesity to be a chronic disease. It is well understood that obesity is on the rise in the United States, and that younger and younger members of our community are becoming obese due to poor nutrition and eating habits. Research has demonstrated that obesity will increase the risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, CVD, respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.1 It has also been demonstrated in a recent research study that obesity also increases the risk for periodontal disease, and it may be insulin resistance that regulates the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.1  It has also been found that individuals with elevated body mass indices (BMI) produce a higher level of inflammatory proteins.

The classifications of being overweight and obese can pertain to more than 60 percent of American adults. It is even higher for some high-risk populations, such as African-American women, placing these individuals at greater risk for diabetes and cardiovascular dis¨ease. Some authorities estimate that two out of three Americans are overweight or obese, and projections of obesity trends for the future indicate an increase in the incidence of obesity in the general population.

It is very critical for individuals to understand the obesity epidemic and to take proactive steps in addressing this issue with themselves and family members who are obese. Good nutrition and exercise should be stressed and individuals should be educated on the role that obesity may play in the development of diabetes, CVD and cancer. 

The dental professional will take a thorough medical history and review any medical issues which may point to the cause for the obesity and  refer the patient to his/her physician for evaluation. The oral health status will also be evaluated and treatment rendered based on the diagnosis. Emphasis will be placed on the reduction of the plaque and accompanying inflammation, both above and below the gumline. Home care should be reinforced, and patients should be encouraged to floss regularly and to brush twice daily with a toothpaste that offers antibacterial protection.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Post-Treatment Care & Tooth Extractions

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about post-treatment care for tooth extractions.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Teeth without Enamel: Causes, Treatment and Care

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Katriena Knights

Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and is therefore vital to the health of your teeth. Not everyone's is the strongest, though, and still others have teeth without enamel at all. Without enamel to protect the softer interior parts of your teeth, they can't stand up to the stress of natural biting and chewing. These abnormal developments require special care and treatment.

Enamel Hypoplasia
Teeth can come in without enamel as a result of inherited issues or because of exposure to certain substances while the teeth are erupting. Baby teeth and permanent teeth can both emerge with enamel that is weak, improperly formed or missing altogether. One of these conditions is enamel hypoplasia, which literally means "underdeveloped enamel." A disorder that causes the teeth to develop with thin, deficient enamel, it sometimes manifests as a pit in the tooth ñ or even a hole. In advanced cases, there is no enamel at all, leaving the more sensitive dentin exposed.
Under normal conditions, per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), special cells in the teeth called ameloblasts form the cells of the tooth enamel. If these ameloblasts are damaged or do not fully develop, the enamel can't develop normally either.

What Causes It
Many factors can cause enamel hypoplasia. These include:

• Poor nutrition during pregnancy or infancy.
• Infection during pregnancy or infancy.
• Genetic disorders.
• Trauma to the teeth or jaw.
• Exposure to certain substances during pregnancy or infancy.

Nonetheless, it's often difficult to determine exactly what caused the teeth to develop abnormally.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Enamel Hypomineralization
• How to Treat It

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Dental Tourism

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the risks and additional costs associated with dental tourism.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Teeth Grinding (also known as Bruxism)

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about teeth grinding also known as bruxism.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Wisdom Teeth

Below is an article found on MouthHealthy.org.

With age comes wisdom. Specifically, wisdom teeth.

Your mouth goes through many changes in your lifetime. One major dental milestone that usually takes place between the ages of 17 and 21 is the appearance of your third molars. Historically, these teeth have been called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age.

When they come through correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chew. It's normal to feel a little discomfort when your wisdom teeth appear, but if you have pain, see your dentist immediately.

Room to Grow?
Wisdom teeth can lead to problems if there isn't enough space for them to surface or they come through in the wrong position. If your dentist says your wisdom teeth are impacted, he or she means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums.

As your wisdom teeth make their way through your gums, your dentist will be monitoring your mouth for signs of the following:

• Wisdom teeth that aren't in the right position can allow food to become trapped. That gives cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
• Wisdom teeth that haven't come in properly, which can make it difficult to floss between the wisdom teeth and the molars next to them.
• Wisdom teeth that have partially come through can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur. This may also lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
• Wisdom teeth that donít have room to come through are thought by some to crowd or damage neighboring teeth.
• A wisdom tooth that is impacted can form a cyst on or near the impacted tooth. This could damage the roots of nearby teeth or destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

The article also contains links about:

• Why You Might Need to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
• Keeping Your Wisdom Teeth?

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 
Purcellville, VA 20132

Root Canals

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org.

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.

Causes of an infected pulp could include:

• a deep cavity
• repeated dental procedures
• a cracked or broken tooth
• injury to the tooth (even if thereís not a visible crack or chip)

If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

Dentist Purcellville VA
Purcellville Dental 

Timothy A. Smith, DDS 

609-T East Main Street 

Purcellville, VA 20132