Oral-Systemic Health

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that diabetes causes changes in the oral microbiome that lead to inflammation and risk of bone loss.

A new study has discovered a link between the presence of a common periodontal pathogen and difficulty conceiving.

A new study from the University of Bristol claims to have found the mechanism by which a certain oral bacterium clings to heart tissues.

Dr. Susan Maples is passionate about what she does and that dentists have much greater responsibilities to today’s patients.

A recent study has identified certain types of oral bacteria that have a correlation with the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Health experts have long urged pregnant women to see a dentist as part of their routine care plan. A new survey suggests the message is beginning to hit home.

One doctor shares her views on the importance of oral systemic health and how it effects the way she works with patients.

There’s been a lot of buzz about oral systemic health in the news lately, and for good reason: A whole host of new discoveries have pinpointed that poor oral health is linked to some very serious medical conditions - and that treating oral health conditions could potentially serve as a preventative measure.

In a study of patients entering the hospital for acute stroke, researchers have increased their understanding of an association between certain types of stroke and the presence of the oral bacteria (cnm-positive Streptococcus mutans).

Bacteria are a well-known cause of oral disease and infection, but new research is examining the relationship between different bacteria in the mouth to see how they interact and, ultimately, tell researchers how bacteria combine to affect overall health.

Vibrant, energetic and fitness-conscious, Sandy Wexler, a pediatric nurse who appeared to be in perfect health, was shocked to learn during her routine dental check up that she had a large suspicious lump on the right side of her neck. Sandy had not noticed anything different about her neck until that moment and thought it must be simply a swollen lymph node due to a subclinical infection of some kind. She assumed a course of antibiotics would easily remedy the situation.

As November is set aside as National Diabetes Month, special attention was paid to its effects on dental patients and what dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants should know during a panel discussion at the recent American Dental Association Annual Session in Washington, D.C.

Pregnancy is stressful enough without having to worry about a child’s future dental health. But, researchers now say, mothers may need to be thinking about just that.

Incorporating oral systemic health knowledge and practice is becoming more important when it comes to improved dental and medical patient care and outcomes. The growing use of “next generation” EHRs will support its adoption into practices and groups.

The earliest study on the effect of inflammation on stroke was published in 1986. But while dental professionals are aware of this information, they may not always practice it, says Dr. Tim Donley, who specializes in periodontics, dental implants, gum disease and oral medicine at his practice in Bowling Green, Ky.

Somewhere along the way, something really bizarre happened: The mouth got separated from the rest of the body. After all, we have dentists, and we have physicians. We have dental insurance and we have medical insurance.