Panorex Machine at Ardas Family Dental

Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado is a provider of comprehensive dental services. As providers of prosthetic teeth and endodontic care, we utilize the latest technology to ensure that our patients are treated appropriately. Among the devices our patients may have noticed is the Panorex, and we thought people might be curious about it.

A Panorex is an x-ray machine that provides a panoramic view of the patient’s mouth. It does not require any special effort from the patient. They only need to remove metal objects from their person, wear a lead apron and bite down on a piece of plastic. It will take about twenty seconds for the Panorex’s panels to rotate around their head. The Panorex subjects a patient to fewer x-rays than a traditional machine and can be adjusted for people of different heights.

As an x-ray machine, the Panorex cannot provide us with a detailed view of the patient’s soft tissues. But it does provide crucial information about how well a patient’s implants are integrating with their jaw bone. It also allows us to strategize where to place new implants, determine whether unerupted teeth will need to be extracted, and plan how to remove them with minimal inconvenience to the patient. We can also use its highly detailed images to more accurately determine whether a patient is developing an infection or jaw tumor.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Gum Disease and Heart Disease at Ardas Family Dental

Dental care from an early age is essential for health throughout life. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado, we accept Medicaid and treat patients of all ages. Part of the reason for this is that poor oral hygiene not only puts people in pain, but also increases their risk for other diseases. Recently, scientists have been examining the correlation between gum disease and heart conditions, and we thought it would be good for our patients to understand the possible links.

Childhood dental habits influence children’s adult oral health, with children who have cavities being likelier to lose permanent teeth. A recent study also found that children with dental infections are likelier to develop thickened blood vessels. Another recent study found that people with gum disease are likelier to have high blood pressure, and a third found that people who lost teeth to gum infections are likelier to have angina, strokes, and heart attacks.

It’s too soon to say that gum disease and heart disease directly cause each other, and they share common risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol. But we are learning more about how oral bacteria are able to travel to other parts of the body and trigger inflammation. We also know that infections of tooth root tips and dental pulp can lead to blood poisoning. During regular cleanings, we provide scaling to remove bacterial build-up below the gum line. We can also do scalings on people with outbreaks of gum inflammation, and if we are able to intervene quickly enough, we may be able to save their teeth and implants. 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Alzheimer's and Gum Disease

Preventing gum disease isn’t just important for keeping your teeth; it may be essential for the health of your brain. We at Ardas Family Dental are dedicated to helping our patients understand how serious oral health is. Scientists have already linked gum disease to a large number of ailments, including diabetes and rheumatism. Now, it appears that gum disease can also be a major factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a disease-causing species of oral bacteria that defends itself by producing toxic enzymes called gingipains. In animal testing, gingipains were found to produce the neural plaque that causes Alzheimer’s disease, and in a recent study, scientists found unusually high numbers of gingipains in the saliva, brains, and spinal fluid of people who displayed Alzheimer’s symptoms. It is also well-established that gingipains move from the mouth to the brain in other species.

In a recently published study, scientists announced that gingipains can also travel from the mouth to the brain in living humans. This is strong evidence that P. gingivalis is a driver of Alzheimer’s disease, and not just something that develops because people already suffering Alzheimer’s symptoms have difficulty brushing their teeth. Although it’s too early to say that gum disease is the primary contributor to Alzheimer’s, it’s certainly a good reason for people to brush and floss twice every day and to see us if they develop gingivitis.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

 

Smoking and Pulp Infections

You doubtlessly knew that smoking isn’t good for your mouth, but you may not have known it can hurt your dental pulp. Although prosthetic teeth have helped many people, we at Ardas Family Dental try our best to preserve the natural dental structure of a patient with a toothache. But new research has shown that smoking makes it particularly difficult to treat dental pulp infections.

The pulp inside a tooth can become inflamed in response to an injury or an infection. Inflammation is a part of the body’s immune response, as are antimicrobial peptides inside the dental pulp. These tiny bits of amino acid kill the bacteria responsible for infections, but smokers have suppressed immune systems. We already knew that smokers suffered from higher rates of gum disease, but new research has shown that smokers also lack antimicrobial peptides in their dental pulp.

We can use root canal therapy to remove infected dental pulp and seal a tooth shut, eliminating the source of a patient’s discomfort. But with a suppressed immune system, there is a higher risk of the infection returning. There is good news: some smokers who quit produced new antimicrobial peptides. In addition to other benefits, if a patient quits smoking, they may be less likely to require a root canal in the future.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Periodontal Treatments and Cirrhosis at Ardas Family Dental

Oral health is a critical component of overall health. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, we recognize that people with gum disease are often fighting complicated health battles, and we want to help them. Lots of new research has come out in recent years indicating that improved oral health may improve a patient’s odds against other diseases, as well, which is why we’re passing along a study examining the link between gum disease and cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is caused by inflammation of the liver that has become so chronic that the liver is covered in scar tissue. It causes inflammation throughout the body and cognitive decline. It is unsurprising that cirrhosis often occurs alongside gum disease since both can result from smoking and overuse of alcohol. But people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, another cause of cirrhosis, also are at elevated risk for gum disease.

To investigate whether there is a causal link, scientists divided people with cirrhosis and gum disease into two groups: a control, and people who received periodontal therapy. They found that the people who got treated for gum disease had a significant reduction in cirrhosis symptoms, including inflammation, and cognitive decline. More research is this exciting area is needed, but in the meantime, we hope our patients will understand that good dental care could have life-changing results.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.