Higher Prevalence Of Periodontal Disease In Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints and can lead to long-term joint damage resulting in persistent pain and loss of function in affected areas.Over 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

The study examined the oral health of 57 RA patients and 52 healthy controls. To determine oral hygiene status, each participant underwent a comprehensive oral examination including an assessment of plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation, both indicators of oral hygiene. Probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss, two markers of periodontal disease, were also measured.

The study findings indicated that RA patients were nearly eight times more likely to have periodontal disease compared to the control subjects. These findings accounted for demographic and lifestyle characteristics such as age, gender, education and tobacco use. For some patients, adverse RA symptoms may affect manual dexterity, which can make one’s daily routine quite difficult. One area that may be affected is oral hygiene which can ultimately lead to periodontal disease. However, these research findings indicate that poor oral hygiene alone did not account for the association between RA and gum disease, suggesting that other factors may play a role as well.

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Brushing up on gum disease: How it affects heart health

Brushing and flossing twice a day can keep gum disease and heart disease away. Research has documented that having periodontal (gum) disease can increase – perhaps two-fold – the risk of heart attack and stroke, says Dr. John M. DiGrazia, cardiologist and co-chief of cardiology at CJW Medical Center.

The New England Journal of Medicine published a recent study showing that gum disease(an infection of the gum tissue) is linked with higher levels of blood vessel inflammation.Researchers found higher blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a sign of inflammation, in gum disease patients. Elevated CRP is associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, declares DiGrazia. Ultimately, treating the gum disease led to reduced inflammation levels in the heart
Preventing gum disease is not just a dentist’s domain. DiGrazia encourages his heart patients to see a dentist if they show signs of gum disease such as discolored or loose teeth.So remember there is no downside to having better teeth and gums.” The upside to a healthy smile is a healthy heart.

Source:www.ada.org and
American Academy of Periodontology.

Want to save Mobile Teeth?….Periodontal Ligament Regeneration Might help.

Dutch researcher Agnes Berendsen has investigated a possible solution to loss of teeth due to inflammation and subsequent destruction of the tissues supporting them.(The Periodontium )

The periodontal ligament forms a flexible connection between the tooth root and the surrounding jaw bone. Trauma or inflammation can cause destruction of the periodontal ligament. Berendsen chose tissue engineering to tackle this problem. Berendsen developed a new 3D model in which cells isolated from periodontal ligament were implanted in a collagen network suspended between an artificial root and artificial bone. She wanted to see if viable periodontal ligament could be generated in this way.

The composition of the collagen network in which the cells are located has a considerable influence on the contractile properties of the cells. Contraction of the cells creates internal tension in the network which keeps the cells active. The network must be well attached to the surrounding solid surfaces to prevent its detachment. Berendsen managed to attach the network to these artificial root and bone surfaces present in the model by creating an enzyme-mediated mineral deposition on the surfaces.

By subsequently applying loading to the tooth root (mimicking the process of chewing) in the 3D model, she was able to deform the mineral-anchored network containing the cells. The subsequent response of the cells was dependent on the magnitude of the loading.

Follow-up research will investigate whether the cell-culture results can be translated to an animal model to obtain more accurate insights concerning the potential use of this method in humans.

Source:www.medicalnewstoday.com

Patients with Certain Antibodies are Less Likely to Develop Periodontal Disease

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that people with certain antibodies are much less likely to develop periodontal disease.

According to the paper, “Serum Antibodies to Porphyromonas Gingivalis Chaperone HtpG Predict Health in Periodontitis Susceptible Patients,” the antibody is to a protein called HtpG, of the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important pathogen in periodontal disease.

The researchers found that the HtpG antibodies were present at lower levels in people with chronic and aggressive periodontal disease, and at higher levels in healthy subjects. Also, periodontal therapy was more successful in subjects with higher levels of HtpG antibodies before periodontal treatment, the study said.
Dr. Lopatin added that the discovery could eventually lead to early interventional therapy to prevent periodontal disease from starting or advancing. The researchers also plan to see how the mechanism applies to other types of chronic infections.

Source:www.ada.org
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