What Story Do Your Teeth Tell?

For centuries, those about to purchase a horse have taken a look in the horse’s mouth as a means of assessing the wisdom of their investment – outward appearances can be misleading. Primarily, horse buyers have been looking for distinct and quite reliable indicators of the horse’s actual age. In recent decades, there’s growing evidence of the importance of looking in humans’ mouths – not so much to determine age, but to potentially predict problems with not only their oral health, but also their general health.

The connections between oral health and general health are truly amazing. If anxiety about dental treatment is causing you to avoid needed treatment – especially for periodontal disease – then you need to start looking for a Raleigh sedation dentist.

Periodontal disease has been shown to have a strong relationship (causative in many cases) to the following medical situations:

· Cardiovascular issues (heart attacks and strokes) – Studies are ongoing to establish periodontal disease as having a causative effect.

· Premature delivery/low birth weight – Observations and studies show a strong tie to the mother’s gum disease, if it exists.

· Diabetes control – That people with diabetes are prone to gum disease has been known for many, many decades, but newer studies suggest that untreated gum disease can make it hard to control blood sugar levels.

· Respiratory health – In hospitals and nursing homes, evidence suggests that severe gum disease can result in inhalation of bacteria and the development of bacterial pneumonia. Studies are also being used to determine whether gum disease causes flares of respiratory disease in people with COPD.

See a Raleigh Sedation Dentist – For Your Health

A sedation dentist can work with you to overcome your dental anxiety and get the treatment you need. This is particularly important if you are suffering from or beginning to develop gum disease. If you have considered looking for a Raleigh sedation dentist but have been concerned about the safety of using sedation, you can feel more assured than ever. In 2009, the NC Dental board enacted formal guidelines for the administration of sedation by dentists. The dental board now certifies that dentists who have permits to practice sedation dentistry have the necessary training and experience to do it safely. The number of Raleigh sedation dentists is limited, but you owe it to yourself and to your family to find one and get the dental treatment you need to take care of your general health as well as your dental health.