Daryl E. Malena DDS
  Periodontics
10838 Old Mill Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
402 330 4100

During the first half of the twentieth century it was widely believed that oral disease played a role in the cause of other diseases.  Many patients with kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other disorders had all of their teeth removed in an effort to help treat their problem. 

Around 1950 some studies refuted that claim and for a long time a dogma persisted that no oral disease had any effect elsewhere in the body.  Only in the 1990's did modern research evidence begin to suggest that oral diseases could cause systemic disorders. 

Now it is well established that inflammatory periodontal disease plays a role in the development of cardiovascular disease.  There may be multiple mechanisms for this relationship.  Oral bacteria that circulate in the patient's blood vessels may cause the formation of plaques and by-products of the inflammation in the mouth (such as C-reactive protein) may trigger events leading to heart attacks and strokes. 

For some time it has been known that inflammatory periodontal disease increases the insulin requirements of diabetic patients.  Periodontal patients sometimes find that their insulin dosage may need to be adjusted downward after treatment. 

This connection between oral disease and systemic health has long been a research interest for Dr. Malena, especially regarding genes that predispose some patients to certain diseases.  In the early 1970's he was able to show that some of the antigens that appear in carcinoma also appear in ordinary gingivitis and periodontitis. He continues to conduct research in this area.

To learn more about this connection between your mouth and your body with respect to pregnancy, osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes, try this link: http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.top2.htm

For information about heart disease, try this link:
http://www.heartcenteronline.com

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