Complete Health Dentistry

At Viva Dental Victoria, we believe that a thorough examination, preventative care and education are the keys to maintaining optimal oral health. Interestingly, recent research suggests that preventative care is more important than we thought. We now know that the bacteria in your mouth and the inflammation that occurs with gum disease may significantly affect your general health! And, the opposite is also true - aspects of your general health can affect your oral health.

The connection between oral health

and overall health

Over the past few years, research has shown that inflammation that occurs with gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with a growing number of serious diseases elsewhere in your body. This is significant because 42% of adults over age 30 have some type of periodontitis and 10% to 15% of all adults have severe periodontitis.

As a result, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Surgeon General and the Mayo Clinic now agree that there is enough evidence to suggest that oral health and general health are inseparable and that you can not be truly healthy without good oral health!

How it works - inflammation!

Normally the body’s natural defences and good oral health care, such as brushing, flossing and teeth cleaning at your dentist, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria levels in your mouth and gums can increase and cause gum disease. The bacteria associated with gum disease appear to promote inflammation in the rest of your body.

It is important to note that the nature of the connection between oral health and general health is somewhat unclear. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that the bacteria associated with gum disease stimulate your body to produce more white blood cells (neutrophils) who's function it is to fight infection and inflammation. These cells circulate throughout the body and exacerbate existing inflammatory conditions in other organs causing damage to their tissues. In the heart, for example, they appear to cause damage to the lining of blood vessels - the first step toward heart attack and stroke!

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Health conditions associated

with poor oral health

Studies suggest that chronic systemic inflammation caused by gum disease may lead to a higher risk for illnesses such as:

Heart disease
Endocarditis - infection of the inner lining of your heart
Alzheimers and dementia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes - about 95% of people who have diabetes also have gum disease
Pregnancy and birth complications
Pneumonia
Several cancers

Systemic conditions that can

affect your oral health

It is also known that systemic illnesses can negatively affect your oral health. As such, it is very import to inform your dentist if you have any medical conditions, if you’ve recently been ill, or if you are taking any medications. Important medical conditions include:

Diabetes
HIV/AID
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Medications
Osteoporosis
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Smoking
Rheumatoid arthritis

How we can help - Screening tests

At Viva Dental Victoria we routinely screen our patients for the usual risk factors for gum disease such as plaque, calculus (tartar), and gum inflammation. If you have noticed any signs of the disease such as swollen, red, bleeding or tender gums or loose teeth, please let us know. Learn more about how we provide Preventative Education.

In addition, we routinely offer General Health Screening Tests at your new patient exam and recare appointments including:

Blood pressure (heart disease)
Oral cancer
Sleep apnea
Blood sugars (diabetes)
Lipids (high blood pressure)

In certain situations, we may suggest other more Specialized Tests to help us (and you) better understand and care for your oral and overall health. This may include tests for: