Pregnancy and Periodontal Disease: It’s All About Prevention

Posted on November 18, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

There is a large body of research examining the potential association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Even a casual examination of the research reveals inconsistent conclusions regarding the effect of gum disease on preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia. There is a similar level of inconsistency in the interventional studies. Some showed a reduction in preterm births following periodontal therapy and others did not. One study, b...

I Don’t Need That, We’re Already Getting Good Results

Posted on November 11, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

The enemy of optimal patient care is complacency. Why would anyone settle for good results when optimal results are so easily achieved? Put yourself in your patient’s place in the exam chair: would you then want only good enough? Patients trust their dental professionals to provide the voice in decision regarding their care. If given the choice between practicing blindly, with no information about the specific bacterial cause of their individual case of periodontal disease, and having the ...

We Were Always Taught

Posted on November 4, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

Dentists who were trained in the 70’s were always taught that the first instrument used in an operative procedure was the enamel hatchet. Caries excavation was done with spoon excavators and a belt driven low speed handpiece. We were always taught that reversible hydrocolloid was an excellent impression material, especially since you could use the same material on multiple patients. You just had to warm it back up in the water bath. We were always taught that we only needed to use a mask and...

What’s Your Excuse?

Posted on October 28, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

It is difficult to understand the resistance by dental professionals to test for the bacteria that cause gum disease. The excuses are numerous including, “I’ve always done it this way”. A variation on this notion is “We were always taught”. Other excuses shift the decision to the patients. “My patients won’t accept it”. Equally unsupported excuses include “We’re already getting good results”, or “I don’t need that”, or “What difference will it make?” Claims of insufficient time are very common e...

A New Conversation with Your Patient

Posted on October 21, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

How do we introduce the idea of salivary testing to our patients? As is the approach with every dental procedure or service we recommend for our patients, the primary consideration is excellent communication. Some recommendations are routine and no explanation is necessary, including fillings and fluoride, among many others. When we introduce new procedures or services to our patients some explanation is appropriate. DNA salivary testing for bacteria is a good example. So what should we s...

As Seen in The Washington Post

Posted on October 14, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

An October 2016 article in The Washington Post newspaper had the following title; Does gum disease have a link to cancer, dementia, stroke? The article discussed some statistics on periodontal disease prevalence and had this notable statement; “While not definitive, the links between gum disease and diabetes, at-risk pregnancy, heart disease and stroke have been so consistent that some insurers offer extra preventive periodontal care at little or no cost to people with those conditions.” The...

Periodontal Disease, Perio Pathogens and Rocket Science

Posted on October 7, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

Risk factors for heart attack include; age, tobacco, high blood pressure, lipid profile, diabetes, family history of heart attack, lack of physical activity, obesity, stress, illicit drug use, history of preeclampsia, history of autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis and so on and so on. Why have all these risk factors been identified? Because it is better to prevent a heart attack than it is to have one. Risk factor identification and modification is the cornerstone of p...

What is the Cause of Periodontal Disease?

Posted on September 30, 2016May 12, 2021 by Richard H. Nagelberg, DDS

If you could test to determine the cause of a person’s diabetes, wouldn’t you do it? If you could get at the root of a person’s atherosclerosis, wouldn’t you test for that as well? If you could take a test sample to diagnose the type of kidney disease, wouldn’t you do it? Hypertension? Ulcers? Pneumonia? Peripheral vascular disease? Rheumatoid arthritis? Crohn’s disease? Acne? Anorexia? Asthma? Bipolar disorder? Breast cancer? Epilepsy? Myocardial infarction? Headache? Of course you would...