thegumdr.com > Periodontal
Updates > September 2009
Dr. Rick Newhart Updates
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONTINUING
EDUCATION!
The
Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department has completed the continuing
education certificates for professionals who volunteered during the
Misson of Mercy Project. If you have not received your certificate,
please contact the MOVHD at 304-485-7374.
PERIODONTICS
RECEIVES TOP BILLING
The
cover story for the August 2009 Journal of the American Dental
Association features periodontitis as an archetypical biofilm disease.
Periodontal
biofilms are resistant to antibiotic attack because the layer
structure is thick and complex. The authors suggest that the most
effective way to target periodontitis, based on the biofilm structure,
is through localized destruction, such as scaling and root planing or
localized delivery of antibiotics into the affected areas. Oxygen
agents can also disrupt the layered structures of the biofilm. The
authors feel that localized antibiotic agents, such as Arestin, are
not effective alone as they cannot disrupt or penetrate the
biofilm.
Dr. Newhart
feels that
the Nd:YAG Laser with Piezo instrumentation
and the LANAP technique is an excellent way to destroy and
remove the biofilm layer.
JADA
Vol. 140 August 2009; 978-987.
HOLD
THE SUGAR PLEASE!
Santos
studied the
effectiveness of rapid full mouth scaling and root planing over a
two-week period on diabetic patients. This Brazilian study used 18
subjects with diabetes to complete scaling and root planing in one day
and 18 diabetic subjects who completed scaling and root planing over a
three week period. The baseline HbA1c along with clinical attachment
levels were measured post-therapy.
Santos
found no significant differences between
full mouth scaling and root planing and scaling and root planing over a three-week time period in these
diabetic patients. They did find that well controlled diabetics had
a more favorable response with clinical attachment gain at six
months compared to subjects who had an uncontrolled diabetic status.
Dr.
Newhart
feels this shows how significant glycemic
control is for the diabetic patient.
JPeriodontology; 2009; 80:1237-1245.
IS
BMI RELATED TO GUMS?
Kongstad evaluated the relationship between body mass
index (BMI) and periodontal disease in a Copenhagen City Heart Study.
This study utilized 878 women and 719 men. This cross-sectional study
surprisingly found that patients with a high BMI had a lower
attachment loss compared to patients with lower weight. They also
found that this relationship was relevant
to whether the patients were smokers or non-smokers. The author did
find a higher rate of bleeding on probing in patients with a higher
BMI. This inverse relationship between high BMI and lower levels of
attachment loss surprised the investigators. The investigators felt
that there were underlying factors, such as oral hygiene, that may
influence progression from gingivitis to periodontal disease.
J. Periodontology; 80: 1246-1253
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