Caldwell & Dimmit - Periodontal & Implant Surgical Solutions
Periodontics & Dental Implants
9398 Vescount Blvd., Suite 1A, El Paso, TX 78756
915-598-6702
  • general information
    • Welcome to Our Practice
    • What is a Periodontist?
    • Introduction to Peridontal Disease
    • Introduction to Dental Implants
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    • Initial Visit
    • Appointment Policy
    •  • Emergency/Single Visit
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Finance & Insurance FAQs
    • HIPAA & Your Privacy Rights
  • patient information
    • Periodontal Overview
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    • Periodontal Disease and Heart Disease
    • Diabetes and Periodontal Diseases
    • Periodontal Disease Risk Factors
    • Periodontal Complications
    • Oral Cancer
    •  • Biopsy
    • Maintaining Periodontal Health throughout a Woman's Lifetime
    • Other Diseases and Their Relationship to Periodontal Disease
    • Heart Disease: Precautions to be Taken Before Dental Treatment
    • Poor Nutrition and Periodontal Disease
    • ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
    • What is "Good Oral Hygiene"?
    • How to Brush
    • How to Floss
    • How to Care for Sensitive Teeth
    • Hygiene Products
    •  • Toothbrush Care
    • ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
    • New Patient FAQs
    • First Visits FAQs
  • non-surgical periodontal care
    • Initial Periodontal Therapy (Scaling and Root Planing)
    • Re-evaluation of Treatment
    • Systemic Antibiotics
    • Supportive Periodontal Therapy (Routine Maintenance)
    • Oral Hygiene Instructions
    • Occlusal Modifications
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    • Appointment Policy ("No Shows" and "Running Late")
  • periodontal therapies
    • Traditional Pocket Reduction Therapy
    •  • Bone Grafting
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    • PerioLase™ LANAP Therapy
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    • Cosmetic Surgery to Improve the Appearance of Your Smile
    •  • Crown Lengthening to Improve the Esthetics of Your Smile
    •  • Soft Tissue Grafting to Address Gingival Recession (Root Coverage Grafting)
    • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
    • Crown Lengthening to Repair a Damaged Tooth
    • Exposure / Bracketing of Impacted Tooth
    •  • Procedure Description for Exposure/Bracketing of Impacted Tooth
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    • Pocket Reduction Surgery FAQs
    • Other Therapies FAQs
  • dental implants
    • Introduction to Dental Implants
    •  • Single Missing Tooth
    •  • Two or More Missing Teeth
    •  • Current Denture User
    •  • Benefits of Dental Implants
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    • CT Scanner & Comprehensive Implant Planning
    • Conscious I.V. Sedation: Is It Right for You?
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    • Socket Preservation Techniques
    • Ridge Augmentation and Bone Grafting
    • Sinus Graft
    • Platelet Rich Plasma
    • Routine Implant Maintenance
  • our doctors & staff
    • C. Stephen Caldwell, DDS
    • Gregory R. Caldwell, DDS MS
    • Walter E. Dimmitt, DDS
    • Surgical Team
    • Dental Hygiene Team
    • Business Staff
  • office information
    • Contact Information
    • Map/Directions
    • Office Forms
    • Misch International Implant Institute
    • Professional Topics and Handouts
    • 2012 Global Bone Grafting Symposium Presentation

Home

Patient Information

  • Periodontal Overview
  • Periodontal Disease and Heart Disease
  • Diabetes and Periodontal Diseases
  • Periodontal Disease Risk Factors
  • Periodontal Complications
  • Oral Cancer
  • • Biopsy
  • Maintaining Periodontal Health throughout a Woman's Lifetime
  • Other Diseases and Their Relationship to Periodontal Disease
  • Heart Disease: Precautions to be Taken Before Dental Treatment
  • Poor Nutrition and Periodontal Disease
  • What is "Good Oral Hygiene"?
  • How to Brush
  • How to Floss
  • How to Care for Sensitive Teeth
  • Hygiene Products
  •  • Toothbrush Care
  • New Patient FAQs
  • First Visits FAQs

Periodontal Disease And Heart Disease

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When you think about your own risk for cardiovascular diseases, many things may come to mind, such as fatty foods, lack of exercise, and genetics. However, you may not be aware of another possible factor, namely the effects of periodontal diseases on the cardiovascular system. Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of the gum and bone that support your teeth. Recent studies suggest that people with periodontitis may have nearly twice the risk of having a fatal heart attack as those without periodontitis.

There are several reasons why periodontal bacteria may affect your heart. In the presence of gum disease, normal tasks such as chewing or brushing your teeth may allow dangerous bacteria to enter the bloodstream and irritate the blood vessel linings and/or enhance the chances that small blood clots will form and clog your arteries. Another possibility is that the inflammation caused by periodontitis may release chemicals into your blood that contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits inside your heart arteries.

Like high cholesterol, an elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) could be another reason as to why periodontitis could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Periodontal diseases appear to trigger the liver to make proteins such as CRP that inflame arteries and cause blood clots that can lead to heart attacks.

For some time we’ve known that periodontal diseases can also aggravate certain kinds of existing heart conditions, especially when there has been previous damage to the heart. According to the American Heart Association, patients at risk for a disease called infective endocarditis may need to take antibiotics prior to dental procedures. Our doctors and your cardiologist will be able to determine if your heart condition requires use of antibiotics prior to your dental procedures”. He will discuss this with your cardiologist to determine if it is safe to limit your Plavix or other blood thinner during your periodontal procedures.

Because healthy gums may lead to a healthier body, schedule a periodontal evaluation today. You may be “One Beat” closer to a happy heart and healthier body.

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9398 Viscount Blvd, Suite 1-A   |   El Paso, TX 79925   |   Tel 915-598-6702   |   Fax 915-593-7478

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