Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’

Gum disease (known as periodontitis) is a silent disease.  It is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth.  You can’t see it.  There’s usually no pain.  Often times, you don’t even know you have it.  If left untreated, gum disease just gets worse and can compromise your oral health and your overall health.  It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs.  Research has demonstrated that as many as 3 out of 4 people will experience some form of gum disease in their lifetime. There are many reasons to take gum disease seriously.  The latest research studies tell us that gum disease may increase your risk of:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Osteoporosis
• Respiratory Diseases
• Delivering a preterm, low birth-weight baby
• Other serious health risks

There are many tests that help doctors predict our risk of developing certain diseases.  We routinely get our blood pressure taken to assess our risk of hypertension.  A blood pressure of higher than 120/80 is considered high risk and in need of treatment.  We get our cholesterol checked to assess our risk of heart disease.  A cholesterol score of higher than 200 is considered high risk and in need of treatment.  There are even genetic tests for breast and ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer that tell us if we are in an extremely high risk category for developing these cancers.  Most of us do not question the validity of these results and accept that the treatment that is recommended by our doctor is necessary to better our overall health and reduce these risks.

At our Family and Cosmetic Dental Office in Shelby Township, Michigan, we are very proud to offer every one of our patients PreViser™, a state-of-the-art, easy to understand and scientifically validated risk assessment tool for gum disease. This specialized computer software is an easy tool that you will receive at every routine hygiene therapy and oral cancer screenings appointment at no extra cost.  The PreViser™ analytic reports provide us with a Periodontal Disease Risk Score that tells us, on a scale from 1-5, the probability you have of developing gum disease in your lifetime.  It also provides us with a Periodontal Disease Score, on a scale of 1-100, which tells us how healthy you are right now.

Why is this important?  The earlier that gum disease is diagnosed the faster it can be halted it in its tracks. Gum disease affects more than just your teeth and gums.  Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. That is why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations, as well as, good oral hygiene at home are essential to help keep gum disease from becoming more serious or recurring. You don’t have to lose teeth to gum disease.

No one wants to lose teeth. No one wants to risk heart disease.  No one wants to risk diabetes.  No one wants to risk cancer.  Knowing your Oral Health Scores is the first step toward healthier teeth and gums. It allows us to chart your course to better oral health.  Remember that if caught early enough, gum disease can be reversed or prevented altogether.  Now is the time to find out if you are at risk for gum disease. There can be no greater peace of mind than knowing you are protecting your health.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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Throughout the years research has shown links between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s disease.  Now researchers from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have found gum disease could also influence brain function through several mechanisms, such as causing inflammation throughout the body, a risk factor for loss of mental function.

 The study, reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, included more than 2,350 men and women who were tested for periodontitis (gum disease) and completed a number of different thinking skills tests as part of a national survey.

 What they found was among adults 60 years of age and older, those people with the highest amount of a gum disease causing bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, were three times more likely to have trouble recalling a three-word sequence after a period of time.  Also, people who had the highest levels of this bacteria present were nearly three times more likely to struggle with verbal memory tests, and twice as likely to fail on both delayed verbal recall and subtraction tests.

 This study is another of many that have shown the importance of maintaining your optimal oral health.  Your mouth and oral health are connected to more than just chewing and eating.  Taking care of the health of your teeth and gums through regular visits for hygiene therapy will not only improve your oral health, but it will affect your overall health and wellness as well.  Call us today to reserve your time to shape up your teeth and gums.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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It seems that everyone you talk to these days has been affected by tough economic conditions.  Do you know anyone who isn’t trying to save money by cutting back on discretionary purchases that they may have taken for granted just a few months ago?  A new car?  It can wait.  New kitchen cabinets?  They can wait.  Caribbean vacation?  Make that a “staycation.” Gourmet coffee?  Home-brewed tastes pretty good these days.  Being frugal in an uncertain economy is not a bad thing – we’re all doing it to some extent.

However, there are some things that should always remain on the “must have” list unless your financial situation is critical.  One such example is oral healthcare for you and your family.  For many Michiganders, maintaining proper oral health via regular dental visits and compliance with a dentist-recommended treatment plan are being given a very low priority that can only be described as neglect.

To be completely frank, your Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait!  Unfortunately, many people still believe that the only time they really need to see a dentist is when they feel pain.  Ouch!  That hurts us because, as caring dental professionals, we’re primarily focused on disease and pain prevention when our patients allow us to do so.

However, we see it time and time again – patients wait until emergency conditions arise, i.e. – broken tooth, severe pain, swelling etc. In virtually every one of these cases, the necessary and immediate course of treatment is much more invasive and costly than if the patients had been proactive and allowed us to diagnose these conditions early or take steps to prevent them entirely. Perhaps you yourself have “been there, done that.”  If so, you should agree that oral healthcare is a perfect example of an “ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.”

Did you know that what you can’t see or feel happening in your mouth can still hurt you?  Recent studies have linked undiagnosed and untreated periodontal disease with increased complications for patients with heart disease, diabetes, and other systemic health conditions including some cancers. The latest medical research also indicates that maintaining optimum oral health is vital for one’s overall health and well-being.

Although many are postponing dental treatment due to economic factors, the fact is that many Michiganders actually have adequate dental benefits that they are not taking full advantage of – even though they pay for a portion of the dental benefits! Our office staff can help ensure that you are taking full advantage of your allotted and deserved dental benefits – especially those routine hygiene visits that can go a long way in preventing cavities and periodontal disease.

Even if you don’t have dental benefits, you can maintain the oral health of you and your family by discussing flexible, interest free payment plans with our office staff or using a major credit card, which we accept as well.

Our goal it to help you achieve your Optimal Oral Health based on what is most important to you.  We strive to provide you, your family, and friends with the highest level of care in the most trusted, modern, state-of-the-art, friendly, relaxed, and enjoyable environment.  Call us today to schedule a visit to begin your journey to the smile you have all ways wanted!

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

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There are many tests that help doctors predict our risk of developing certain diseases.  We routinely get our blood pressure taken to assess our risk of hypertension.  A blood pressure of higher than 120/80 is considered high risk and in need of treatment.  We get our cholesterol checked to assess our risk of heart disease.  A cholesterol score of higher than 200 is considered high risk and in need of treatment.  There are even genetic tests for breast and ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer that tell us if we are in an extremely high risk category for developing these cancers.  Most of us do not question the validity of these results and accept that the treatment that is recommended by our doctor is necessary to better our overall health and reduce these risks.

We are very excited to announce that we now have a risk assessment tool for gum disease!  PreViser™ is an easy tool that you will receive at every routine hygiene therapy and oral cancer screenings appointment at no cost to you!  PreViser™ analytic reports provide you and I with an easy to understand and scientifically validated risk and disease score for gum disease.  The PreViser™ Risk Score tells us, on a scale from 1-5, the probability you have of developing gum disease in your lifetime.  The PreViser™ Disease Score, on a scale of 1-100, tells us how healthy you are right now.

Why is this important?  The earlier that gum disease is diagnosed the faster we can halt it in its tracks.  Gum disease affects more than just your teeth and gums.  Recent research has linked gum disease to other health problems including heart and respiratory diseases; diabetes; preterm, low birth weight babies; stroke; osteoporosis; and even some cancers.

At our practice in Shelby Township, Michigan, we strive to provide you with the best care available.  The addition of PreViser™ to our practice gives us another tool to ensure that we reach our goal of providing you with Optimal Oral Health Care on Every Visit.

About HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC

Dr. Heather Pranzarone Stratton is a Family and Cosmetic Dentist practicing with a Biological and Biocompatible philosophy in Shelby Township, Michigan. Our practice provides a full range of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry services for your entire family including, professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings, tooth restoration, porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, tooth whitening, and dentures.  We are a mercury free and mercury safe dental practice and latex free practice.  HPS Advanced Dental Care, PC easily serves Macomb and Oakland Counties.  We are easily accessible from many metro Detroit cities including: Shelby Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Macomb Township, Oakland Township, Washington, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and many more.

Bookmark It

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