Healthy Heart Dentistry
The wellness of the heart and body depends on healthy tissues throughout, particularly the gums. Most people diligently brush their teeth at least twice daily, but the gums call for more. Gums need proper home care, regular hygiene cleanings and screenings (to reveal gingival infection, bleeding, signs of oral cancer, certain bacteria and more).
Why are the gums so important? Inflamed gums bleed regularly, which allows oral bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream and freely travel the body. This constant flow of bacteria can cause:
- Hardening of the arteries
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Gradual resistance to insulin, causing diabetes
- Increased risk of certain cancers
- A less effective immune system
Insightful Testing & Painless Treatment
The health of your gums should not be taken lightly. Bleeding gums, if undiagnosed and untreated, can be the sole cause of diabetes. Heart disease is also correlated with inflamed gums and gum disease. The good news is that Dr. Morris can conduct blood tests and a salivary diagnosis to understand your risk of gum disease and painlessly treat gums with a soft-tissue laser.
Different tests can reveal the amounts of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, as well as specific bacteria present in the mouth. This data tells Dr. Morris exactly what is going on, so she can start the right treatment – antibacterial medication, pocket reduction with the laser, and/or a referral to a trusted, local cardiologist for follow-up care.
Not all dentists in Sarasota, FL emphasize preventive care as strongly as Jill Morris, DMD. Sarasota patients can count on the caliber of care from World Class Dentistry and Facial Esthetics®! Call us to book your appointment for heart healthy dentistry and gum health today.
Healthy heart dentistry and gum health are vital:
- 80% of adults have some form of gum disease or bleeding gums
- 40 million pre-diabetics in the US could avoid diabetes through proper gum health
- Most patients are unaware of poor gum health
Dr. Morris can assess gum health & conduct salivary diagnosis!
Actual Patient
World Class Dentistry Wellness Program
As we see it at World Class Dentistry, “Initial visits to the dentist should focus on biological disease assessment before moving toward restorative care. Ongoing treatment should focus on maintaining health and prevention of disease”
We use advanced diagnostics in our practice. One of the key players in this oral-systemic connection is the bacteria in your mouth. There are both good and bad bacteria that inhabit the mouth, forming the “oral microbiome.” The goal is to maintain barriers to invasion locally (bleeding gums and bone loss) and systemically (arterial injury, heart disease, cancer, dementia and diabetes). We want to reduce the population of the bad bacteria and create an environment to promote good bacteria. For our Implant patients, there are specific bacteria in the mouth that cause an increase in implant failure.
Advanced Diagnostics that we offer to patients
- Microscope slide of the plaque performed at hygiene visits to see what type of bacteria and parasites may be in the gum tissues
- Saliva testing to measure the quantity of disease causing bacteria
- Cone beam 3D CT scans detect hidden infections or abscesses that contribute to system inflammation. Bale-Doneen research shows that it is inflammation in the body that causes disease. Oral pathogens flooding the system through the gum tissues create this inflammation.
- Oral Cancer screening with advanced light technology
- Ultrasound screening for plaque in the carotid arteries
- Bacterial biofilm removal from teeth, tissues and implants with our Air Polishers
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Ozone irrigation that kills bacteria and parasites
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Laser disinfection of the tissues (painless) that removes bacteria and parasites living in the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth
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Application of hardening agents that reverse tooth decay if caught early, followed by remineralization products applied at home.
- Prebiotics and probiotics to replace with good bacteria as we eliminate the bad bacteria
- pH testing of the mouth
- Dry mouth protocols
High Risk Pathogens found in the mouth:
Moderate Risk Pathogens:
Low Risk Pathogens:
OUR GOAL IS TO CHANGE THE BACTERIA COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE MOUTH FROM HARMFUL “INFLAMMATION CAUSING” BACTERIA TO HEALTHY SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA.
We recommend doing this saliva test annually to see improvement. With good home care and hygiene recall intervals determined by your level of risk for disease, we should see an elimination or decrease in the pathologic bacteria. Success of this program depends on how often the bacterial colonies are disrupted by home care and hygiene visits.
- Regular hygiene appointment which includes ozone, cavitron removal of hard deposits and polishing teeth
- Cone Beam CT every 3 years
- Full mouth series of x-rays every 3 years
- Yearly cavity detecting x-rays
- Yearly cancer exams