Dental updates from Dr. Mckeever.

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GUM DISEASE AND YOUR RISK FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD)

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease (pyorrhea), it could mean problems for more than your gums. According to a rercent study, the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are associated with plaque buildup in the carotid arteries - the blood vessels that transport blood to the brain.
During dental exams of 657 patients (mean age 69), researchers collected samples of bacteria from below the gumline and analyzed them in the laboratory. They also measured the thickness of the carotid artery walls of the patients with ultrasound.
Their findings? People with greater amounts of the oral bacteria that cause periodontal disease had slightly thicker carotid arteries. A thickened carotid artery indicates a buildup of plaque which is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke; people with plaque in their carotid arteries invariably also have plaque in the arteries that carry blood to the heart based upon information known from previous studies. However, no relationship was found between higher levels of oral bacteria and C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the body which some experts have hypothesized is the link between gum disease and CHD.
This is the first study to show a direct link between CHD and the germs responsible for periodontal disease. All the more reason to floss your teeth and get regular dental care.


CORONARY CALCIUM SCANS PREDICT HEART ATTACKS

A relatively new technology called an EBT (electron beam tomography) scan can be used to analyze the levels of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries and the test appears to be an accurate predictor of heart attacks (in spite of what your physician might tell you - my comment!)
Researchers used EBT scanning (also known as coronary calcium scanning) to measure the coronary calcium scaores of healthy men and women age 50 - 70. A higher calcium score indicates greater amounts of calcium in the arteries calcium being a componant of some but not all plaques.
About 4 years after the scan, 119 of the 4,613 perticipants had a cardiovascular event (such as a heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stroke). The coronary calcium scores of those who had experienced a heart attack or other cardiovascular events were higher than those without such an event. This was the largest study of EBT scanning for the early detection of cardiovascular disease. Its predictive accuracy was found to be greater than the commonly used Framingham risk score.
If your calcium score is high, this test can be followed by a second test, such as a thalium infusion test, that will tell the physician if any parts (cells) of your heart muscle is ischemic, or has a restricted blood flow. This can often determine whether invasive procedures are needed to re-establish blood flow to the heart.
posted by Steve at 1:00 PM