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While there is no definite evidence that if your prevent gum diseases, like periodontitis, that you may be able to prevent a heart condition or heart disease. The only thing experts, like Dr. Dalessandro, know for sure is that if you take care of your gums it can lessen atherosclerosis, (build-up of artery clogging plaque) that may result in a heart attack or stroke.

Could periodontal disease cause heart attacks?

Regardless of your oral health, if you're at a high risk for heart disease, you need to take action.

• Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight.
• Consume healthy foods and beverages.
• Exercise several days the week. Walking is a powerful and lightweight exercise and will clear your head while helping your body get or stay healthy.
• Control any medical conditions you may have such as high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
• Reduce your stress. Have lunch with a friend, go for a walk in the park, take a bubble bath, mediate, or do whatever you find relaxing.
• Get a social life. Laughing reduces stress and “feel good” hormones. Everyone needs to feel like they are a part of something: join a book club or any activity where you can interact with other people at least once or twice a week
• Be sure to get enough sleep. The recommended amount is eight to nine hours a night. It has been proven that a lack of sleep increases your risk for angina, strokes, and heart attacks.
• Practice good oral hygiene to keep bacteria in check and your mouth healthy.

Contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office if you have questions about your heart and oral health. If you take practice good oral hygiene, both your mouth and your heart will thank you.

If Dr. Dalessandro and our team have tried several different treatments without success such as antimicrobial therapy, tooth scaling, or root planing, but have been unsuccessful in curing or even stabilizing your periodontal disease, then surgery is most likely the next step.

Dr. Dalessandro will recommend surgery for the following three reasons:

• Stop the gum disease from progressing
• Repair the gums and periodontal tissue
• Prevent further destruction of your periodontal issue in the future

Types of Gum Surgery

There are many types of gum surgery available at our Hoffman Estates, IL office, including:

• Gingivectomy – This is generally the first surgical intervention for periodontal disease. The procedure aims to extract diseased or infected gum tissue. It allows new tissue to grow and reattach itself to your teeth. Gingivectomy surgery can also be used to remove unnecessary gum tissue if you have a condition called gingival hyperplasia.
• Gingivoplasty - This surgical procedure that is implemented for aesthetic reasons after a gingivectomy. It gives your gum tissue a natural look around your teeth. The procedure reshapes the areas of your gums that can look deformed after a soft tissue graft or a gingival curettage procedure.
• Osseous (bone) Surgery – This type of surgery is often used in combination with a pocket depth decreasing procedure. This type of surgery is performed to correct malformations of the bones near your teeth. These pockets can provide an area for bacteria to hide and grow. The procedure evens out the shallow holes and asymmetrical surfaces of the damaged bone caused by bone loss because of the by periodontal disease.
• Gum Graft – This type of surgery is performed to replace or reinforce the gingival tissue if you have bad gum recession. Gum grafts are used as a covering for teeth with exposed roots. The grafts also lessen the roots sensitivity and stops root cavities and gum recession.
• Periodontal Flap Surgery & Pocket Depth Reduction – This surgery is considered the most significant gum surgery to cure your moderate to severe periodontal disease. Flap surgery reduces the depth of your periodontal pockets that can trap damaging dental plaque bacteria. By reducing the size of your periodontal pockets, less plaque bacteria and tartar can get in the pockets. This surgery also allows you to remove the plaque and tartar yourself using good oral hygiene.

Bad breath, or halitosis, is probably not a matter of life or death. But it can make you feel self-conscious and have a negative impact on your life. The majority of people suffering from bad breath are dealing with oral bacterial. However, there are other causes of this embarrassing problem. Learning more can help you fight this solvable problem.

Five Causes of Embarrassingly Bad Breath

1. Dry Mouth. A decrease in saliva flow can be caused by several things. Most often, medication or mouth breathing are the culprits. As saliva helps wash away food particles from your mouth, it prevents bad breath. Dry mouth can be dealt with by stimulating salivation.
2. Gum Disease and Poor Oral Hygiene. Not brushing and flossing well enough or with enough frequency can lead to gum disease, which leads to bad breath. Halitosis can be a sign that plaque is present on your teeth.
3. Food-Related Bad Breath. Food particles that aren't brushed or flossed away attract bacteria that leads to bad breath. It's especially important to brush after eating strong-smelling foods, such as garlic or onions.
4. Smoking and Tobacco. Tobacco is bad for your health, and that includes your oral health. Smoking or chewing tobacco can contribute toward the development of gum disease, as well as oral cancer.
5. Mouth Infections and Other Medical Problems. A mouth infection, sinus infection or even the common cold can cause you to temporarily have bad breath. Even conditions such as diabetes and reflux can cause halitosis. It's always wise to see Dr. Dalessandro to help determine the cause.

We are Your Ally

Even if you maintain good oral hygiene, it's important to see Dr. Dalessandro at our Hoffman Estates, IL office to deal with or avoid problems with bad breath. We can help you uncover the cause of halitosis, while also providing solutions that allow you to enjoy fresh breath without relying on mints and breath fresheners. As is the case with all things related to oral health, we are your number-one ally when it comes to eliminating the problem of bad breath.

The earliest endeavors for dental implant tooth substitutes on record dates back to the Mayan civilization, to 600 AD. Archeologists recovered primeval skulls in which the teeth had been replaced with materials the ranged from wood, stones, and jewels to small pieces of seashells.

Like most scientific progresses, the finding of what makes todays dental implants so successful was unexpected. In 1952, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, named Dr. Branemark, placed a very small titanium cylinder into a bone to learn how the bone would heal. What he discovered was that the titanium cylinder had fused (melded to the bone.) Out of this experiment dental implants would be born within two decades.

In 1970s, modern dental implants made their first appearance. Of course, over the past four decades, the original dental implant has undergone several improvements in both structure and design, but has always been based on the original theme.

Dental implants were first made available to individuals who had lost all of their teeth and had difficulty wearing dentures, mainly because they had lost of much of their jawbone were dentures set. Today, most dental implants are used in place of dentures, for multiple teeth that are missing, or to replace a single tooth.

When dental implants were first designed, they were a one size fits all. The original dental implants were all the same circumference, while the length of each tooth varied depending on the type of tooth it was replacing. The dental implants were smoothed out and polished by a machine, but still did not produce the natural looking dental implants we have today.

Now, with the help of state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technology, implants come in a wide variety of sizes and shape to match the teeth that are missing. The surfaces of today’s dental implants give them a more natural look and feel. In addition, the surface of the dental implant also attaches to the bone much easier and for a longer period of time.

Dr. Branemark's discovery has left an impression on dental professionals, all over the world, including Dr. Dalessandro. If you are considering dental implants to improve your smile’s health, beauty, and function, be sure to contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office to schedule an appointment.