The Link Between Periodontal Disease And Cancer Is Real

                        

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Data collected during a long-term health study provides additional evidence for a link between increased risk of cancer in individuals with advanced gum disease, according to a new collaborative study led by epidemiologists Dominique Michaud at Tufts University School of Medicine and Elizabeth Platz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Kimmel Cancer Center.

            The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, used data from comprehensive dental exams performed on 7,466 participants from Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Carolina, as part of their participation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who were then followed from the late 1990s until 2012. During the follow-up period, 1,648 new cancer cases were diagnosed.

The research team found a 24 percent increase in the risk of developing cancer among participants with severe periodontitis, compared to those with mild to no periodontitis at baseline. Among patients who had no teeth— which can be a sign of severe periodontitis—the increase in risk was 28 percent. The highest risk was observed in cases of lung cancer, followed by colorectal cancer.
When the researchers did sub-group analyses, they found that participants with severe periodontal disease had more than double the risk of developing lung cancer, compared with no/mild periodontitis. An 80 percent increase in risk of colon cancer observed for participants who were edentulous at baseline, which is consistent with prior findings, and among never smokers, a two-fold higher risk was noted for participants with severe periodontitis, compared to those who had no/mild periodontitis.
"This is the largest study addressing the association of gum disease and cancer risk using dental examinations to measure gum disease prior to cancer diagnosis," said first and corresponding author Dominique Michaud, Sc.D., professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. "Additional research is needed to evaluate if periodontal disease prevention and treatment could help alleviate the incidence of cancer and reduce the number of deaths due to certain types of cancer."

Michaud noted that the findings were particularly interesting in light of research, including a recent study in Science, which determined that colorectal cancer tissues contain bacteria that are present in the mouth, including bacteria that have been associated with periodontal disease.
The researchers also uncovered a small increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with severe periodontitis. Although not significant statistically, the association has been seen in other similar studies, including a number of studies led by Michaud of Tufts.
The research team accounted for the impact of smoking among the participants, since people who smoke are more likely to get periodontal disease, and smoking raises the risk of lung and colon cancers.
"When we looked at data for the people who had never smoked, we also found evidence that having severe periodontal disease was related to an increased risk of lung cancer and colorectal cancer," said Elizabeth Platz, Sc.D., deputy chair of the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
The ARIC data were especially useful to study because unlike most previous research linking gum disease and cancer risk, periodontitis cases were determined from dental examinations performed as part of the ARIC study rather than participants' self-reports of the disease. The dental exams provided detailed measurements of the depth of the pocket between the gum and tooth in several locations in the mouth. The ARIC data include both Caucasian and African-American participants.
The researchers found no links between increased risk of breast, prostate or blood/lymphatic cancer and periodontitis. The link between periodontitis and increased cancer risk was weaker or not apparent in African-American participants from the ARIC study, except in cases of lung and colorectal cancer. "Additional research is needed to understand cancer-site specific and racial differences in findings," wrote the authors. The researchers caution that the study was limited in size for subgroup analyses, and less common cancers. The findings, however, suggest the need for further study.
Michaud and Platz said the study also points to the importance of expanding dental insurance to more individuals. "Knowing more about the risks that come about with periodontal disease might give more support to having dental insurance in the way that we should be offering health insurance to everyone," Platz said.
Advanced gum disease, also called periodontitis, is caused by bacterial infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. Previous research has shown a link between periodontitis and increased cancer risk, although the mechanism connecting the two diseases is still uncertain.

                                                

                                                                                                                                             

 

 

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Had Those Teeth Cleaned Lately?

Before and after a cleaning.........Have them cleaned and checked on a regular basis!  The lingual( tongue side) of the lower anterior teeth are typically an area of heavy build up of calculus.

Thumb Sucking and Soothers......

Thumb sucking and soother use can make a baby feel secure and happy.  Since the habit is relaxing it may induce sleep.
The habit that persists past the eruption of teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment.
The example above shows an anterior open bite due to thumb sucking or soother use.
In some cases orthodontic correction might be required due to this habit.

Merry Christmas! (look closely at the book the elf is reading.....hopefully some remember this)

Guess What Movie Came Out Today?

8 Things You Should Know About Wisdom Teeth

1. They used to serve a very important purpose.

Some scientists believe that human ancestors required more grinding functionality of their teeth for proper nutrition because their diet consisted of mostly raw and unprocessed foods. Having these four additional teeth or “third molars” allowed for optimal nourishment.

2. Third molars exhibit more variation than any other tooth in the mouth.

Nearly one fifth of the population is missing one or more third molar. In addition, their anatomy is widely variable among patients. Some have one large root and some have tw or three sprawled roots. The age at which third molars emerge into the oral cavity also varies tremendously, with the average being between 17 and 21 years of age. However, it is not uncommon to see third molars erupt earlier or much later than this.

3. Most third molars are recommended for removal.

Occasionally, patients have enough space in their mouth for the third molars to grow in and can maintain them throughout their lifetime. However, these teeth are often difficult to access and clean, which leaves them more susceptible to decay or periodontal disease. Over time, these conditions could impact the otherwise healthy neighboring second molars.

4. Often they do not erupt in alignment with adjacent teeth.

Due to the fact that most patients do not have adequate space in their jaws for complete eruption of the third molars, they can be found in many different orientations. Some are situated horizontally and some angularly. Some are fully covered by bone and/or soft tissues – or “impacted” – and some are just partially covered. Rarely, an impacted third molar may be situated so close to a nerve or sinus cavity that your dentist may opt to monitor rather than remove it.

5. Problems associated with third molars may not cause symptoms.

There seems to be a misconception that if the third molars don’t cause discomfort, they don’t need to be evaluated. However, even if they are impacted, or retained within bone and/or soft tissue, problems can arise such as tumor or cyst formation around the tooth. Such problems can cause destruction of bone, healthy teeth, or other tissues, making the treatment more complicated. By frequent monitoring of the development of the third molars, treatment can be more predictable and conservative.

6. Your dentist will evaluate you to create an individualized treatment plan.

Your dentist will take into account your age, medical history, orientation of the teeth, and proximity of the teeth to structures such as nerves, sinus cavity, and second molars when determining if and when you are a candidate for third molar removal. Most often, a panoramic radiograph will be taken to visualize the third molars and surrounding structures.

7. Timing is very important.

Your dentist will monitor the development of the third molars to determine the ideal time for extraction. The early stage of root development – before these teeth are fully formed – is the optimal time for removal. Once the teeth are ready for removal and it has been determined that removal is the recommended course of action, don’t delay treatment. The healing process is much faster and less eventful in young, healthy patients. Individuals older than 25 may experience a more difficult or prolonged recovery and have an increased risk of complications.

8. Sedation may or may not be right for you.

In addition to local anesthetic to prevent pain during the removal procedure, you and your dentist will determine whether any form of sedation is recommended to control anxiety. Sedation options may include nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), oral sedation, or intravenous sedation. Patients may drive themselves home after the procedure with nitrous oxide but not with any other form of sedation. Many patients undergo third molar removal with some form of sedation, but not everyone is a candidate. Your provider will create an individualized plan to ensure your comfort and safety.

Your dentist will be able to answer questions you may have, and let you know what to expect. Our goal is to make you feel as informed and comfortable as possible in order to make each dental experience a positive one.

Some Important Information About X-rays

Did you know it would take approximately 10000 dental x-rays to reach your annual maximum dose of radiation?


- Each time you fly from coast to coast you receive 4 millirems of backround radiation.....the equivalent of four panoramic x-rays.

- There is backround radiation from things like concrete buildings, roads and even the sun...just standing around you receive more than 3 bitewing x-rays worth of radiation every day.