There is a inter-relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, and cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease.  People tend to view the mouth as separate because physicians handle the body, while dentists handle the mouth.  However, the mouth is the gateway to the entire gastroenterological system, and dentists often see patients more often, and are therefore in a better position to alert them of danger.  In this segment Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Susan Kleiner discuss the relationship between nutrition and periodontitis; how eating to reduce inflammation can not only help periodontal disease but also other inter-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The Importance of Diet:

a)    The idea is to eat a diet rich in fruits and deep, dark, leafy vegetables.
Key super foods include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, oranges and other citrus fruits, berries, apples with the skin
Ideally you should try to get five servings a day of fruits and vegetables

b)    Other important foods include whole grains, dairy, olives, nuts, seeds, and extra virgin olive oil, which has the same compounds in it as ibuprofen
The less processed foods, the better

c)    The top ten anti-inflammatory foods I recommend are:
1.    Fatty Fish (and DHA/EPA Fish Oil Supplements)
2.    Kale and Swiss Chard
3.    Beets
4.    Citrus Fruits and Juices
5.    Berries
6.    Pineapples
7.    Ground Flaxseed, nuts, and seeds
8.    Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
9.    Ginger and Turmeric
10.  Tea and Coffee

1.    Patient relationship with your dentist:
a.    It is important to build a strong, trusting relationship with your dentist now so that you know that he or she has your best interests in mind when making a recommendation
b.    Don’t be afraid to discuss your specific treatment options with your dentist and to make an educated decision with them  – you will then be best equipped to receive the best treatment
 
2.    Referral process:
a.    Patient is often referred to a specialist after being diagnosed by their general dentist
i.    A general dentist that makes a referral knows what his or her limitations are, which is more important than knowing what he or she can do
b.    For optimal health, your dentist needs to provide an introductory referral report, or a personal call following the transfer of records, so that the specialist can have a solid understanding of your case
i.    Your treatment history is an important piece of information that needs to be properly communicated to the specialist
ii.    They also need proper information about the stage of development and treatment to date, which will then help provide you, the patient, with optimal treatment
c.    The specialist should compare the information they’ve received from the dentist with their own assessment, and then communicate their findings and recommendations back to your dentist
i.    This will then allow you to discuss, review, and approve a treatment plan with your general dentist
d.    It is better for the patient to decline treatment or a referral if they are informed of the risks and benefits of treatment versus no treatment and accept responsibility for their decision
 
3.    Close working relationship:
a.    Your dentist should have a close network of specialists that they have worked with over the years and that they trust. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist questions about their relationship with the specialist they recommend
b.    In an optimal dentist-dental specialist relationship, the two doctors should communicate, encourage each other to try new things, and work together to provide the best patient treatment possible.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Scientific studies have established an association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease.
• Research has found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those without periodontal disease. 
• Periodontal disease can also exacerbate existing heart conditions. It is now recommended that patients with cardiovascular disease be monitored more thoroughly regarding their periodontal status.
• The presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (such as periodontitis and gingivitis), cavities, and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels.

• Lose weight if you’re overweight
• Eat healthy foods
• Exercise most days of the week
• Control any conditions that increase risk, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure
• Prevent or treat gum disease

The Teeth-in-a-Day procedure, also known as the All-on-4, gives a fixed, full tooth replacement from start to finish in one surgical procedure in one day.

Best for 2 different types of people:

• Patients with no teeth that are currently wearing dentures.
• Patients who are missing a few teeth, and the teeth they have are failing.

 

Provides the following advantages:

• Comfort & confidence
• While dentures and certain implants take the joy out of enjoying food by inhibiting taste and bite capabilities (and in turn, nutrition), this procedure gives patients teeth that are not connected across the roof of the mouth and function just like real teeth. Many patients are able to enjoy their dinner the night of after surgery.
• Dentures are removable, require messy adhesive, and can actually fall out. The All-on-4 allows new teeth to be fixed and non-removable, feeling and looking natural.
•  Day-to-day maintenance

• Dentures are challenging to clean and often result in poor breath. The teeth in the new procedure can be maintained just like normal teeth –brushing, flossing, etc.
• The All-on-4 is priced nearly the same as the typical denture treatment, making it accessible to a wide range of people.

Dr. Rapoport is opening up a new clinic called reStor™ Dental Center devoted to this procedure in March. It will be the first clinic of its kind in Washington.