Periodontitis linked to increase risk of cancer

A recent article by Dr. Bicuspid discusses some research that found an increased cancer risk in periodontitis patients.

January 16, 2018 -- Patients with severe periodontal disease have a 24% greater risk of developing cancer than patients with no or mild periodontal disease, according to a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (January 12, 2018).

The researchers also reported that patients who were edentulous had a 28% greater risk of developing cancer overall but an 80% greater risk of developing colon cancer. They also found that even patients who never smoked had more than double the risk of lung cancer if they had severe periodontal disease.

This long-term study was the largest of its kind to date, noted lead study author Dominique Michaud, ScD, in a statement.

"This is the largest study addressing the association of gum disease and cancer risk using dental examinations to measure gum disease prior to cancer diagnosis," stated Michaud, a professor of public health and community medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine.

Suggested link

The researchers drew participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, which included more than 15,700 participants between the ages of 44 and 66. All the participants had a baseline examination and were invited for follow-up visits over 10 years from the late 1990s until 2012.

At the fourth visit, 7,466 participants had a clinical dental examination. Those with a previous history of cancer were excluded. The current study differed from previous studies in that it included this dental examination, the authors noted.

During the examination, probing depth and gingival recession were measured at six sites on all teeth. These two values were summed for attachment loss as a measure of periodontal destruction. The categories included no/mild periodontitis (less than 10% of sites with attachment loss of 3 mm or less), moderate, severe (30% or more of sites with attachment loss greater than 3 mm), and edentulous.

January 16, 2018 -- Patients with severe periodontal disease have a 24% greater risk of developing cancer than patients with no or mild periodontal disease, according to a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (January 12, 2018).

The researchers also reported that patients who were edentulous had a 28% greater risk of developing cancer overall but an 80% greater risk of developing colon cancer. They also found that even patients who never smoked had more than double the risk of lung cancer if they had severe periodontal disease.

This long-term study was the largest of its kind to date, noted lead study author Dominique Michaud, ScD, in a statement.

"This is the largest study addressing the association of gum disease and cancer risk using dental examinations to measure gum disease prior to cancer diagnosis," stated Michaud, a professor of public health and community medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine.

The researchers reported an 80% increase in the risk of colon cancer for patients who were edentulous at baseline. Interestingly, the risk for lung cancer also increased twofold for those with severe periodontitis who had never smoked, compared with those participants with no or mild periodontitis.

The researchers found that not smoking apparently did not alleviate the risk for lung cancer, according to co-author Elizabeth Platz, ScD, deputy chair of the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"When we looked at data for the people who had never smoked, we also found evidence that having severe periodontal disease was related to an increased risk of lung cancer and colorectal cancer," she stated.

The researchers did not find any links between periodontitis and increased risks of breast, prostate, or blood/lymphatic cancers. However, they reported that the association between severe periodontitis and total cancer risk was stronger in men and null in women, compared with those participants with no or mild periodontitis. Also, links were generally weaker or not apparent among black participants, with the exception of lung and colorectal cancers, for which associations were similar by race.

Reducing cancer deaths

The authors cited the size of the study population as the main limitation of their study. Also, the dental examination took place at the fourth visit, which was nine years into follow-up. In addition, they noted that classification of periodontal disease might be imperfect.

However, they noted that their study provides further evidence that cancer risk is higher in individuals with periodontitis. But more research is needed to understand the cancer site-specific and racial differences, they added.

"Additional research is needed to evaluate if periodontal disease prevention and treatment could help alleviate the incidence of cancer and reduce the number of deaths due to certain types of cancer," Michaud stated.

American Dental Association In Action

Every year the American Dental Association has an annual meeting. They rotate which city will host it, and this year it was Washington DC's turn to play host. I, along with the rest of the board of the Utah Dental Association, took advantage of the location this year to visit with our state senators and congressmen to discuss some bills and resolutions that we are fighting for to improve dental coverage for our patients.

There are 3 bills/resolutions in particular that we are pushing. I'll give you a quick summary of each bill.

1- we are trying to repeal the McCarron Ferguson act that was passed 60 years ago. It gives insurance companies exemption from anti-trust laws. Basically insurance companies can collude to price fix and do other illegal things that end up hurting the patient. They don't have to play by the same rules as everyone else and we want the playing field leveled. Once this happens patients will see an increase in innovation and as a result their insurance benefits will improve, costs will shrink, and efficiency will improve. 

2-we are seeking changes to the ERISA laws that were passed back in the 1970's. Long story short is that insurance companies are unfairly denying patients their rightful benefits at times, and when we try to prosecute them through the state insurance commission the insurance companies hide behind this federal law. An unintended consequence of the law is that it allows insurance companies to bully their patients and get away with it. We want our patients to rightfully receive the benefits they have been paying the insurance company for.

3-The federal government won't allow federal student loans to be refinanced more than once and are locking students into rates that are far above market value. We want this law changed to allow student loans to be treated more like mortgages are. After all, many dental students are now graduating with $450,000 in student loans. If a person has a home mortgage it can be refinanced multiple times to get a better interest rate. Student loans don't have that option unfortunately, and as a result they miss out on tremendous savings opportunities. 

It's an uphill battle for all three but we have to try.

One thing that I learned from meeting with our representatives is that together we can accomplish our goals. Government may be slow and frustrating at times, but the best way to get stuff done is to work together.

Implants vs Bridges

Unfortunately sometimes a tooth needs to be pulled for various reasons. Two of the best options to replace a missing tooth are implants and bridges.  Each has some pros and cons.  This cool image breaks down some of it easily.

In our office a bridge costs about the same as an implant, so price is not an issue. This is good because it allows us to better decide on which is the best treatment option for the situation.  Most of the time we will recommend an implant because it's the better option, but there are times when we will recommend a bridge.  Here are a few examples: severely medically compromised individuals (i.e. uncontrolled diabetes, history of bisphosphonates, etc.), severe bone loss where there is no longer sufficient bone for an implant, or for esthetic reasons. In these situations it is better in the patients interest to forego the implant and pursue a bridge.

The majority of the time though implants are the better option because they are easier to clean and maintain. Bridges are very difficult to keep clean as you need to thread the floss underneath the bridge which can be cumbersome and time consuming.  Implants are less invasive on the other teeth. Bridges require grinding down one tooth in front and one tooth behind the missing tooth, and we try to avoid grinding down good teeth, whereas implants don't need to bother or change the teeth next to them.  Implants last must longer than a bridge. Bridges tend to last a mere 10 years. If the bridge is resting on a tooth that has had a root canal, that time frame goes down even more.  Implants on the other hand can last a lifetime if you keep them clean.  Also, implants help to preserve the bone. Jaw bone is funny and unlike any other bone in the body. It thinks its only purpose is to support teeth. When the teeth are gone, the bone resorbs and shrinks in size. This can affect how you look. Implants are bone stabilizers. When an implant is placed, it preserves the jaw bone.

Implants can look incredibly life like. Esthetically they are difficult to distinguish from your natural teeth. Technological advancements have really improved the look, feel and durability of implants.

So if you are missing teeth, feel free to ask us which option would best benefit you to replace the missing teeth. Contact us for more info or visit our website to learn more about your options.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry is a buzz phrase often heard in our industry. Dentists use the phrase to describe a style of dentistry they offer, and patients reference it when discussing what type of dentistry they are interested in. So what is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is any procedure that can improve the aesthetics of your smile. Whether it is something as simple as whitening your teeth or as complex as a full mouth makeover, cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile. Many people have teeth that are chipped, discolored, misshapen or even missing and as a result don't smile with the confidence they would prefer. That is when they pursue some of the treatment options that we can provide.
At Park City Dentistry we offer a variety of these cosmetic services. Some of the most popular are our 1 hour in office teeth whitening procedures, porcelain veneers that look incredibly life-like, implants to replace missing teeth, crowns for misshapen teeth, gum therapy for patients suffering from periodontitis, and even realistic dentures for patients who have lost all of their teeth.
Our goal is to help our patients leave here with beautiful, natural looking teeth. We aim for the type of teeth that will make your family and friends wish they had your smile. We take great satisfaction in providing cosmetic procedures that even many of the most trained eyes can't detect if they are natural or not.
One added benefit of cosmetic dental procedures extends beyond even the aesthetics of your smile. Cosmetic dental options can even improve many of your oral health problems like your bite and gum health.
If you have any questions about the procedures we offer or about what options you would have with your smile, feel free to call our office and set up an appointment for a consultation.

New Guidelines for Artificial Joint Patients

Have you had a joint replacement in the past and felt confused on whether or  not you should take antibiotics prior to your dental treatment?  Well you are not alone.  Many in the medical industry have been confused with the changing guidelines recommended for joint replacement patients.  It has been recommended that patients with prosthetic joints should pre-medicate for life.  It has also been recommended to pre-medicate for 2 years after the surgery.  Confusing, right? Now the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) have clarified the issue and determined that patients with prosthetic joints no longer need to pre-medicate.
Their reasons for this recommendation are based on their findings that there is no association between dental procedures and the occurrence of prosthetic joint infections. Factors also considered in the recommendation included:
1- Antibiotic resistance due to overuse of these drugs.
2- Adverse drug reactions such as anaphylaxis, nausea, vomiting and development of allergy like symptoms.
3- Cost.  The results of a 2013 report revealed that the annual cost of amoxicillin administered to patients with joint prostheses before dental procedures in the U.S. probably exceeded $50 million!

So the bottom line is that if you have had a joint replacement you no longer need to pre-medicate for dental visits.  These new guidelines do not apply however to pre-medication for patients with cardiac issues that were outlined in 2007.

Why good dental hygiene is important

A few recent studies published by NYU, Harvard, and the University of Bristol have shed light on the need for good oral hygiene.  You can read a summary of the reports here.

Most people are aware that poor dental hygiene can lead to cavities, gum disease and bad breath.  But there are other problems that can result from neglecting your mouth.  The studies mention that Alzheimer's disease, pancreatic cancer, and heart disease can possibly be caused by poor oral hygiene.

Take care of your mouth, and it will take care of you.  If you need to schedule a cleaning and check up, feel free to call our office today at 435-649-4343 and let us help you improve both your oral health and your overall health.

The Power of a Smile

Dr. Steven Lin gave a powerful TEDx talk on the power of a smile.  Enjoy!

Can Green Tea Fight Cavities?

Studies show that drinking green tea can strengthen your teeth and help fight cavities.  That is if you don't add sugar to your tea. So next time you are ready to drink your green tea, hold off on the sugar to protect your teeth.
On a side note, they have found that coffee does not affect your teeth one way or the other, unless you add sugar to your coffee.  If you add sugar to your coffee, then you are more likely to get cavities and are at risk of losing your teeth.
The take away from these studies, avoid your sugar intake for the benefit of your teeth.

No More Fillings?

A recent article in Science Alert has made a claim that fillings might be a thing of the past.  Could it be true?  Could lasers actually regrow teeth like the article states?  Sounds pretty cool if true.  The article references a study published in Science Transitional Medicine.  Before we all get too excited, we need to take a step back and analyze the study that is being referenced.  What the article fails to mention is that the peer reviewed journal study does not infer that you can forego a root canal or fillings like the article claims.  They unfortunately are jumping to conclusions without understanding what the study is about. 

What does the study say?  The study explains how scientists have been able to trigger odontoblasts with a low power laser.  What are odontoblasts?  Odontoblasts are specialized cells in teeth that grow dentin, the inner portion of your tooth.  

So, in a sense, it is true that you can regrow tooth structure with a laser.  But this doesn't mean that fillings and root canals are a thing of the past or that this is anything new.  This isn't a groundbreaking study because we have other materials on the market already that can trigger those odontoblasts to grow dentin.  The process is called pulp capping and is used when decay (caries lesion) extends deep into the tooth.  If the decay is near the pulp, but not invading the pulp, we can lay down this material that triggers those odontoblasts and causes them to grow a protective layer of dentin called tertiary dentin, that will protect the pulp from dying as a result of the deep decay.

Here's the problem with the conclusion of the article: once dentin is decayed, the only cure for it is to remove it.  Just like rust on a car, you can't magically disinfect the decayed dentin. Also, once the decayed dentin is removed the remaining odontoblasts in the tooth can't regrow sufficient amount of dentin to fill the void, and they can't regrow fast enough to protect the pulp.  If you have a deep cavity, you will still need a filling.

If the decay has by chance extended all the way to the pulp, you then need to remove the pulp as well by performing a root canal.  So root canals and fillings are still going to be needed to fix teeth that have had deep cavities.

The best medicine though is prevention.  It's better to brush and floss regularly and have regular professional cleanings so that you won't need fillings or root canals.

Extraction vs Root Canal

We have patients that come to us with broken down, infected teeth that are presented with a difficult option of pursuing a root canal to save the tooth or having it extracted.  Sometimes it's an easy decision to make.  But every situation is different, and some can be more challenging than others.  Hopefully the recommendations in this post can help make the decision a little more clear.

How much tooth is left?
The more tooth structure that is left, the better.  After a root canal is performed, the tooth will need a crown.  The more tooth structure above the gum line, the more we have to work with for the new crown.  We need at least 2 mm of tooth above the gums.

Where is the tooth located?
Pulling a tooth that is highly visible may effect the aesthetic appearance once the tooth is removed.  More consideration will be given to saving the tooth if possible when the tooth affects your smile.

Is the tooth able to chew?
Does the tooth in question chew against another tooth?  If not, saving the tooth may not be worth the cost.  If the tooth is pulled there is no risk of affecting your bite or chewing ability.  On the other hand if the tooth is an anchor for a bridge or a partial denture, we want to try our best to save that tooth.

What are some options for replacement?
There are three main options for replacing a missing tooth.  One is a partial denture.  One is a bridge.  And one is an implant.  All three have their pros and cons.  The best option is an implant.  It functions like a natural tooth, has the best odds for lasting a long, long time.  And it looks and feels like a natural tooth.  The next best option is a bridge.  It looks like a natural tooth, and it feels like a natural tooth while chewing.  The downside though is that bridges are harder to keep clean and they typically need to be replaced about every 15 years. The advantage of a partial denture is that they are the cheapest option.  The disadvantage is that they aren't as aesthetically pleasing as a bridge or implant and they need to be taken out every night.

If you are in need of endodontic treatment or replacing a missing tooth, contact us today!

Motivation For Brushing Your Teeth

According to a recent study, there are multiple health benefits you can get from brushing your teeth.  One of those is a decreased risk of developing dementia.  The study concludes the same thing another one found, and that is that the fewer teeth a person has, the more likely they are to develop dementia.
Others benefits include:
Prevent heart disease
Prevent stroke
Prevent gum disease
Prevent pneumonia
Promote healthy babies
Keep your eating in check
Promote a healthy brain.

So keep those teeth and gums clean, and enjoy a longer, healthier life.

Can Poor Oral Health Affect Athletic Performance?

According to a recent press release from University College London, many of the elite athletes who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games had poor levels of oral health similar to those experienced by the most disadvantaged populations. Among the athletes surveyed, 18 percent said their oral health was having a negative impact on their performance.
If you are looking to improve your athletic performance, make sure you don't neglect your oral health.  Athletes who train intensely can be at greater risk of tooth decay because of sports drinks with high sugar content, busy schedules, and a compromised immune system from intense workouts.

13 Side Affects From Not Brushing or Flossing.

Business insider recently posted a great article on some possible outcomes to not brushing or flossing.  Here is their list of 13 things you are at risk of developing if you don't take care of your teeth:
1-Gum Disease
2-Tooth Loss
3-Bad Breath
4-Dementia
5-Pneumonia
6-Erectile Dysfunction
7-Brain Abscess
8-Diabetes
9-Kidney Disease
10-Heart Disease
11-Pregnancy Complications
12-Ulcers
13-Cancer

Seems like a scary list, huh?  The truth is, our mouths and teeth are connected to our whole body systemically.  If you want a healthy body, don't neglect your oral hygiene!

Brushing Game For Your Kids

Are you looking for ways to motivate your child to brush his or her teeth more consistently?  You might be interested in trying out a new game that is available as an app for Android and iOS devices.  The new game called Toothsavers makes brushing fun by encouraging kids save friendly fairy tale characters from an evil, cavity-creating sorceress who has cast a wicked tooth-rotting spell on the kingdom.  The game is geared toward 3-6 year olds and was designed  to motivate children to take care of their own teeth by brushing for two minutes, twice a day.
Watch a preview to learn more.

Featuring a fun and colorful design, Toothsavers includes three key features to help kids and their parents learn about the importance of oral health:

• The timed, finger-swipe brushing game calls on kids to be heroes, as they save 10 fairy tale characters from the cavity-creating sorceress.
• The two-player version of the game allows kids to “brush” the teeth of friends and parents who hold the mobile device up to their mouths.
• The mobile app also offers a real-life tooth brushing companion, with morning and nighttime reminders, that allows kids and parents to keep track of their brushing progress.

The free Toothsavers app for smartphones and tablets is now available from the App Store andGoogle Play. It is also available on the Web at 2min2x.org/PlayToothsavers. For more information, visit 2min2x.org/toothsavers.

Preserving Your Teeth

Here is a recent CNN article that you may find helpful for your teeth:

For all intents and purposes, we really get only one shot to take care of our teeth.

The good news is, science and research have taken a front seat in dental education, making today's dentist savvy on "prevention" dentistry rather than the "drill, fill and bill" mentality of decades ago.

Things like adhesive dentistry, recalcification and dental implants have given dentists more options. But for many patients, it's a lot of information to process.

Here are five ways you can ensure that you hang on to your teeth as you age:

Educate yourself on dental care.  

Dentistry today has taken a much more conservative approach. But it can be hard to know what your options are. Here are some key points that you should know about dental treatment.Educate yourself on dental care

• Small cavities can be recalcified. Strong doses of fluoride, or something called MI Paste, applied directly to small cavities can actually recalcify or rebuild the enamel, removing the need for a filling.

That said, the key to recalcification is early detection. Regular dental visits are crucial to early detection.

• Fillings, crowns or any dental restoration should be replaced or heavily scrutinized every eight years.

Some patients are of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" era. But the reasoning behind this advice is to eliminate the spread of recurrent cavities that lurk under dental restorations.

The longer you wait to replace dental restorations, the more problems you can run into. If the decay spreads undetected, it may eat up too much healthy tooth structure and need the support of a crown or reach the nerve and need a root canal.

• Make sure your children are getting fluoride treatments until at least the age of 15. Kids, especially, consume a lot of sugar, which breaks down into a biproduct of acid that erodes teeth, quickly causing cavities. Fluoride is a great treatment in rebuilding enamel and neutralizing those acids.

Use an electric toothbrush

In dentistry, the electric toothbrush has been one of the biggest advances in home dental care. Ninety-nine percent of patients don't really know how to brush with a manual brush and, more important, don't brush for the full two minutes needed.

Electric toothbrushes remove the confusion and have a timer to ensure that the full brushing is done at each session. Improper brushing can lead to plaque buildup, swollen gums, cavities and overall poor oral health. The sonic brushes remove plaque and get into hard-to-reach places like in between teeth and under the gums to ensure a healthy mouth.

If you grind or clench, wear a night guard

Grinders can wear away a millimeter of tooth structure per year if undiagnosed. Clenchers may not see any immediate signs of wear on their teeth, but the pressure that clenching puts on your teeth is destructive. It slowly breaks down the supporting bone around the teeth, leading to gum recession, bone loss and inevitably tooth loss.

If you feel that you may fall into either of these categories, you should be wearing a night guard. It may not be sexy, but it's much sexier than missing teeth.

Know what oral hygiene regimen is right for you

Today, there has been a lot of money and research into better oral care products. But understand that there is an actual regimen of toothpaste, mouth rinse and "extra-care" products that's right for you.

The first step is defining what "type" of patient you are. I like to break it down into four basic types: cavity-prone, sensitive, stainers and those with bad gums.

You can ask your dentist which category you fall into. Each product in the sea of dental products in the drugstore has key ingredients tailored for each category of patient. Using the right oral care products can make a big difference in the longevity of your teeth.

Choose the right dentist

Fortunately -- or unfortunately -- your dentist has a lot to do with the preservation of your teeth. Make sure your dentist is up on all current research and his office is updated and state-of-the-art, but most important, make sure your dentist is taking time and looking after you. It sounds simple, but it's probably the most important item on your checklist.

Bacteria That Cause Gum Disease May Also Worsen Arthritis

For years researchers and clinicians have known there was an association between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  But until recently they didn't understand the microbiological mechanisms.

In an article recently published in PLoS Pathogens, University of Louisville School of Dentistry Oral Health and Systemic Diseases group researcher Jan Potempa, PhD, DSc, and an international team of scientists from the European Union’s Gums and Joints project have discovered how the bacterium responsible for periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis worsens RA by leading to earlier onset, faster progression and greater severity of the disease, including increased bone and cartilage destruction.
I'll repeat that because it's so important; the bacteria that causes periodontal disease has been shown to worsen rheumatoid arthritis.

As the release states, the scientists found that P. gingivalis produces a unique enzyme, peptidylarginine deiminanse (PAD) which then enhances collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a form of arthritis similar to RA produced in the lab. PAD changes residues of certain proteins into citrulline, and the body recognizes citullinated proteins as intruders, leading to an immune attack. In RA patients, the subsequent result is chronic inflammation responsible for bone and cartilage destruction within the joints.

The bottom line is that our mouth is connected to our entire body.  If you want to take care of your body, take care of your mouth.  More and more research continues to be published that supports this.  If you have any questions, feel free to visit our website at www.parkcitydentistry.com or call our office at 435-649-4343.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

We often have patients ask us if they are going to need their wisdom teeth extracted.  At Park City Dentistry, we don't just extract all wisdom teeth.  We are selective about when they should come out.  Not everybody needs to have their wisdom teeth out.
Let's start off by explaining what wisdom teeth are.  Wisdom teeth are the 3rd molars, or back molars.  They are typically the last teeth in the mouth to erupt.  If/when they do erupt, they usually don't have enough space to erupt normally.  They can either be impacted (still in the bone) or partially erupted with the gums covering much of the tooth.

As I mentioned, not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted.  Some people have their wisdom teeth erupt and are perfectly fine.  They can go their whole life without any problems from their wisdom teeth.  There are only 3 scenarios where we recommend extracting wisdom teeth.  These are:
-When wisdom teeth partially emerge through the gums.  This increases the chance of a bacterial infection called pericoronitis that can be very painful and sometimes dangerous.
-When unerupted wisdom teeth are expected to grow crooked and damage other teeth.
-When a fluid-filled sac (cyst) develops around an unerupted wisdom tooth, which can damage surround tissue or bone.


The decision to remove wisdom teeth isn't always clear.  If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth, call us for an evaluation and we can tell you what your options are.

Before and After Photo

We recently had the pleasure of helping out a young lady to improve her smile.  She had some dramatic wear and erosion on her teeth.  She hated her smile and was embarrassed to ever show it when she laughed or talked with other people.  She went to one dentist who quoted her a treatment plan of $40,000.  We were able to complete her work for a fraction of that cost.  She loves her new smile and we love how it turned out.  It is so gratifying to work in dentistry and help people to overhaul their smiles.  A new smile goes a long ways to restoring confidence and comfort.

New Commercial

PC TV put together a commercial for us that will air daily.  Let us know if you see it!

Women With Periodontal Disease May Be At Risk Of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Are you currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant?  If so, then you will want to schedule a cleaning with your dentist and hygienist to avoid periodontal disease while you are pregnant.  According to a recent news release, new clinical recommendations from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) encourage women that are pregnant to maintain good periodontal health.

If you have redness, tenderness, swollen, or bleeding gums, these could be indications that you have periodontal disease.  These signs, especially during pregnancy, need to be addressed and may require treatment from your dentist.

Several research studies have suggested that women with periodontal disease may be more likely to deliver babies prematurely or with low-birth weight than mothers with healthy gums. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), babies with a birth weight of less than 5.5 pounds may be at risk of long-term health problems such as delayed motor skills, social growth, or learning disabilities. Similar complications are true for babies born at least three weeks earlier than its due date. Other issues associated with pre-term birth include respiratory problems, vision and hearing loss, or feeding and digestive problems.

The medical and dental communities agree that maintaining periodontal health is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. The clinical recommendations released by the AAP and the EFP state that non-surgical periodontal therapy is safe for pregnant women, and can result in improved periodontal health. Published concurrently in the Journal of Periodontology and Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the report provides guidelines for both dental and medical professionals to use in diagnosing and treating periodontal disease in pregnant women.