Perio Disease and Systemic Association

Question 1

How many Americans out of 4 are affected by periodontal disease?

Answer 1

3 out of 4

Question 2

What is the mildest form of periodontal disease?

Answer 2

Gingivitis

Question 3

What can happen if gingivitis is left untreated?

Answer 3

can lead to periodontitis and is no longer reversible

Question 4

T/F: The bacteria is what causes the gum loss in periodontal disease.

Answer 4

False!
Actually, the inflammatory response from the bacteria in the biofilm is what causes the gum loss

Question 5

What is the bodies first response to injury?

Answer 5

inflammation

Question 6

What is the first phases in inflammation?

Answer 6

Acute inflammation: redness, swelling, heat, and altered function

Question 7

What is an important biological marker of inflammation in blood?

Answer 7

C reactive protein:
- CRP is found in blood and can rise in response to inflammation
- acute inflammation often causes elevated CRP
- elevated CRP is a risk factor for several chronic inflammatory diseases

Question 8

What does inflammation have a common link between?

Answer 8

several common diseases of aging.
- includes heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and periodontitis

Question 9

What is the objective of inflammation?

Answer 9

• contain the injury to the local site
• body’s reaction is immediate (innate)
• protect body from further damage

Question 10

When does inflammation become damaging?

Answer 10

when it is uncontrolled (chronic inflammation)
- occurs when there is sustained infection
- involves more inflammatory mediators than innate response

Question 11

Why does periodontitis give a higher risk of losing teeth?

Answer 11

• it is a prolonged immuno-inflammatory response leads to destruction of connective and bone tissues

Question 12

What did the January 2008 study find?

Answer 12

• it is bacterial induced chronic inflammation that doesn’t resolve by itself
• inflammation response is the most essential
• environmental/genetic factors affect expression of inflammation
• diabetes, CVDm and stroke all share common inflammatory processes similar to periodontal inflammation
  resolution of any inflammation in the body is helpful for overall health

Question 13

Periodontitis and CVD:

Answer 13

• not much evidence if person has CVD then they will have periodontitis
• evidence that when scaling, root planing, tooth extraction can cause oral bacterial species enter the circulation and cause bacteremia (systemic). less is studied on toothbrushing, flossing, chewing, biting

Question 14

T/F: inflammation causes more heart attacks than cholesterol.

Answer 14

True!

Question 15

What do we need to know about the research between periodontitis and CVD:

Answer 15

Peritonitis increases risk of having CVD.
No research on CVD increasing risk periodontitis.

Question 16

What do we need to about periodontal disease and arthritis:

Answer 16

• treat periodontitis, helps arthritis

Question 17

What do we need to know about periodontal disease and diabetes:

Answer 17

• bidirectional: treat one, help the other

Question 18

What is the link between pancreatic cancer and periodontal disease:

Answer 18

• men with a history of gum diseases are 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than men with healthy gums

Question 19

What do we need to know about head and neck cancers and periodontal disease:

Answer 19

- chronic periodontitis is independently associated with the incidence of head and neck cancers
- smoking increases this association

Question 20

What do we need to know about periodontal disease and Alzheimers:

Answer 20

• exposure to chronic periodontal disease quadruples and individuals risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
• not directly

Question 21

What are the behavioral risk factors for periodontal disease:

Answer 21

• poor oral hygiene
• smoking (higher levels of CRP
• stress
• sleep deprivation
• poor diet