For periodontal therapy in Chicago, Dr. John Kelly is an expert in the latest periodontal techniques.
The standard of care for gum disease (periodontal health) is changing. For a century, sharp instruments that used to scrape and remove bacteria have been looked upon as the ideal treatment for gum disease. This is no longer the case. The old treatment of scraping and scaling gum tissues, resulting in an experience of pain and sensitivity is now a thing of the past. Today, a new technique for gum disease treatment Chicago involving low level acoustic energy with water is the most advanced treatment available. We call it Revolutionary Periodontal Therapy (RPT).
What is RPT?
Dr. Kelly performs RPT by using an ultrasonic instrument around the tissue with water acting as a whirlpool to remove disease and infection. These ultrasonic instruments require only a light touch with no exertion of pressure. Because of this, there is no required anesthetic (shots), and each visit requires less time. This treatment is a welcome change for patients who have found the past combination of clinical force and sharp blades traumatic.
Revolutionary Periodontal Therapy with your focuses on stopping the progress of periodontal disease and preventing further infection, so it goes beyond the traditional scaling and scraping. The “scraping” done in the past removed some of the symptoms of the disease process, as well as, healthy tissue and dentition. The old methods never addressed the cause of disease. So, people have been enduring traumatic treatment without really being healthy.
There is now strong evidence and scientific literature describing the links of periodontal disease with health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, low birth weight and pre-term babies, respiratory infection, obesity, and even Alzheimer’s. With all of these contributing factors to one’s overall health the treatment of periodontal disease should be easy and comfortable. With your Dr. Kelly, this new RPT technique and philosophy can produce a lifetime of health without pain and discomfort.
Understanding & Arresting Gum Disease
Up to 80 percent of the population unknowingly has some form of gum disease. Characterized by a persistent bacterial infection surrounding one tooth or several teeth, gum disease causes little discomfort and produces few obvious symptoms in the early stages. When periodontal disease is not treated, it will spread and compromise gums, teeth, bone, and it can lead to heart disease and strokes, as well as diabetes and pregnancy complications.
Who is at risk for gum disease?
Any of the following conditions greatly exacerbate the risk of gum disease: smoking, tobacco use, hormone fluctuations, stress, some medications, bruxism, diabetes, poor nutrition, HIV, and any disease resulting in immunosuppression, heredity, and poor oral hygiene. Even patients who practice good oral homecare routines can get gum disease. Gums irritated by bacteria can recede from the teeth, creating deep pockets where more bacteria can hide and flourish.
Surgical treatments for gum disease
If gum disease progresses without intervention, a patient may need surgery to remediate the disease and restore the mouth to good oral health. Typically, periodontists may perform four surgical treatments: pocket depth reduction, bone or tissue regeneration, crown lengthening, and/or soft tissue grafts. All of these procedures may improve your chances of keeping your teeth for life.
Health risks associated with gum disease
Heart disease
Those with periodontal disease have increased risk for fatal heart attack and are more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Diseased gums release significantly higher levels of bacterial pro-inflammatory components into the bloodstream. As a result these components in the blood travel to other organs in the body, primarily the heart, and cause harm. These components in the blood stream trigger the liver to make C-reactive proteins, which is a predictor for increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Pre-term or low birth weight babies
Women with advanced periodontal disease may be more likely to give birth to an underweight or preterm baby. Periodontal infections cause a faster-than-normal increase in the levels of prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor molecules that induce labor, thus causing premature delivery before the fetus can grow to a normal birth weight. Also, oral bacteria can cross the placental barrier, exposing the fetus to infection.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are more prone to developing periodontal disease in turn periodontal disease is a risk factor for diabetes. Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and activate immune cells. These activated cells produce inflammatory biologic signals (cytokines) that have a destructive effect throughout the body. In the pancreas cells responsible for insulin production can be damaged or destroyed by the chronic high levels of cytokines. Once this happens it may induce Type II diabetes, even in otherwise healthy individuals with no there risk factors for diabetes.
Respiratory infection
Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be inhaled into the lungs cause respiratory diseases. People with respiratory diseases typically suffer from reduced protective systems making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.
Arthritis
Periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis have very similar pathologies. Damage caused by the immune system and chronic inflammation is central to both diseases. Periodontal infection may trigger the arthritic disease process since it was found that people who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis were more than twice as likely to have periodontal disease than a control group. Also was found that the progression of periodontal disease in the arthritis group was due to factors other than a difference in oral hygiene.
Obesity
People who consume less than the recommended dietary allowance of calcium and vitamin C have a higher rate for periodontal disease. People that were studied in an obese group found a significant decrease in raw fruit, and non-potato vegetables, which are high sources of vitamin C. Also, the obese group was found to be ingesting soft drinks and non-citrus juices than milk and healthier beverages. Another factor seen was the social stigma of obesity. Chronic stress was seen in this group which has been found to increase the risk of periodontal disease.
Stroke
The arterial walls in people found with chronic periodontal disease were found to be ½ a millimeter thicker than normal. Long term inflammation and activation of white blood cells caused by periodontal disease increases plaque formation in arterial walls which can lead to stroke. Oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contributing to clot formation. Also, the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque buildup which contributes to swelling of the arteries. Bacteria from the mouth may cause clotting in the cardiovascular system.
Make an appointment today with Dr. Kelly to see if periodontal therapy is right for you.