KEEPING UP WITH DR. DUELLO

DR. DUELLO AT THE AO MEETING IN SAN DIEGO

Dr. Duello with Dr. Bedrosian at AO meeting.

Dr. Duello visited San Diego last week to attend the Academy of Osseintergration meeting. He attended many lectures, including that of his good friend Dr. Ed Bedrosian, whose oral surgery practice is located in San Francisco.
Dr. Bedrosian spoke about zygomatic implants, these are implants that anchor in the cheek bone and allow patients who have little to no bone left in the upper jaw, reap the benefits of  fixed implant supported dentures.  Dr. Duello is proud to call Dr. Bedrosian friend and mentor.

Dr Bedrosian lecturing

Although Dr. Duello was at the meeting mainly for the learning opportunities, he did enjoy running into some friendly faces. He caught up with Dr. Tom Matthes a prosthodontist in St. Louis with whom he has enjoyed a 30+ year relationship providing the highest quality restorative/rehabilitative and implant dentistry possible.

Dr. Duello and the Salvin Team

Dr. Tom Matthes & Dr. Duello

The team at Salvin Dental Specialties works closely with Dr. Duello to provide the cutting edge equipment and materials needed when offering state-of-the-art  surgical treatment modalities such as those delivered at Masters Institute. 

It's always exciting at the office when  Dr. Duello returns from these meetings full of energy, all revved up to share his knowledge with colleagues and apply it to patient care.

Don't let the "Tooth Fairy" fly away with your teeth. Make sure you're being properly evaluated for the signs and symptoms of periodontal diease!

ASSESSING YOUR RISK 

Protect your adult teeth from the "tooth fairy"

FOR PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Periodontal disease or “gum disease” is typically caused by a build-up of plaque beneath the gum line. The bacteria in the plaque ignite the body’s inflammatory response, and the gums become red, swollen, and even bloody. While the main cause of periodontal disease is inflammation as a result
of bacteria, other habits or environmental conditions, referred to as risk factors, can increase the likelihood that an individual will develop gum disease.

Common risk factors of periodontal disease include:

Age:
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that
almost half of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. In
adults 65 and older, prevalence rates increase to 70.1 percent.
Smoking/tobacco use:
Studies have shown tobacco use to be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and
progression of periodontal disease.
Genetics:
Research has found that a family history of periodontal disease may increase a person’s
susceptibility to gum disease. Genetic testing can be conducted to identify if you are
predisposed to periodontal disease.
Stress:
Stress can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal disease.
Medication:
Some drugs like oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and certain heart medicines can affect your
periodontal health.
Poor nutrition and obesity:
A diet low in nutrients can make it harder for the body to fight off infection. Research has also found
obesity may increase the risk of periodontal disease.
Poor oral hygiene:
Ignoring teeth and gums allows plaque to build up along the gum line. Not routinely brushing and flossing can easily lead to gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease.
Other systemic diseases:
Recent studies have linked diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and erectile dysfunction to periodontal disease. These and other systemic diseases could interfere with the
body’s inflammatory system and may worsen the condition of the gums.

It is recommended that you see a periodontist or dentist once a year for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation to assess gum health. If you are experiencing any of the risk factors mentioned, inform
your periodontist, dentist, or hygienist so he or she can look for early signs of periodontal
disease.

Considering risk factors as part of the treatment planning process allows for proactive management of an individual’s periodontal health and can potentially reduce the need for more complex
periodontal procedures in the future.

How do dental professionals assess risk for periodontal disease?

Your periodontist, dentist, or dental hygienist will assess your risk factors for periodontal disease as
part of the comprehensive periodontal evaluation. This will help better predict the likelihood that
you will develop periodontal disease or that your condition will worsen. It will assist your
periodontist or dentist in determining the best personalized course of treatment for you.

How to defeat inflammation: A few tips for you at home!

How to Reduce Inflammation at Home

Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the supporting bone and tissues
around the teeth. The inflammatory reaction is your body’s way of removing the
toxins released by bacteria that live on your teeth and gums.  However, when the inflammation
lasts for too long or is too strong, it starts to break down the tissues around your teeth,
including your gums and supporting bone. This may cause teeth to become loose and even
fall out.

Unfortunately, inflammation doesn’t only occur in your mouth. Several other serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, are caused by the same
chronic inflammation that causes periodontal disease.

The good news is that your dental professional can help you reduce the inflammation in your mouth as a result of periodontal  disease through treatments such as scaling and root planing. But
you can also help to reduce the inflammation in your mouth and even in your entire body right at home.

Here are a few things you can try:

Eat the right foods 

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, herring, or sardines) and walnuts, have been shown to reduce inflammation. Green tea, which also contains antioxidants, has been shown to reduce the risk of gum disease and cardiovascular
disease by reducing inflammation in the body.

Exercise

People who maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly have been shown to
have lower incidences of periodontal disease than those who do not exercise regularly.
Moderate exercise may also help reduce inflammation in your body, but extreme exercise
(running a marathon, for example) can actually increase systemic inflammation. It’s a good idea to discuss your exercise plan with a health professional to ensure that it’s a good fit for your lifestyle.

Brush and floss your teeth

When you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day, you remove the bacteria on
your teeth and gums that causes the inflammatory response that leads to gum disease. Therefore,
it’s important to take care of your teeth every day by brushing and flossing, and don’t forget to see
your dental professional for regular cleanings and check ups, including a yearly comprehensive
periodontal evaluation.

What are omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are  unsaturated fats that our bodies cannot make by themselves. Therefore, omega-3's must come from the things we eat, which is why it’s important to eat a balanced diet. Omega-3's are vital for metabolism and brain function and also help to reduce inflammation in the body. Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help treat or prevent several conditions other than periodontal disease, including cardiovascular disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, talk to your health or dental professional before taking omega-3 supplements to make sure they’re right for you.

Bleeding Gums? What is causing this potentially serious problem?

Inflammation and Periodontal Disease

Most people know that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a necessary step in achieving overall well-being. In fact, now not only dentists encourage brushing and flossing, but many physicians also promote oral hygiene as a way to help keep the rest of the body healthy. Several research studies have suggested that gum disease may be associated with other health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. And with more and more research reinforcing the connection between periodontal and systemic health, scientists are beginning to understand why these connections exist. One theory points to chronic inflammation as the culprit.

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harm, such as an injury or infection. For many years,
dentists believed that gum disease developed as a result of a bacterial infection caused by the build-up of plaque between the teeth and under the gums. While plaque build-up is still a factor in the
development and progression of gum disease, researchers now suspect that the more severe
symptoms, namely swollen, bleeding gums; recession around the gum line, and loss of the bone
that holds the teeth in place, may actually be caused by the chronic inflammatory response to the
bacterial infection, rather than the bacteria itself.

Scientists hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory response mechanism may be the reason
behind the periodontal-systemic health link. Many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease
are also considered to be systemic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and even certain forms of cancer, suggesting that chronic
inflammation itself may be the basis for the connection.

More research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the
relationship between gum disease and other disease states. However, since previous findings have
indicated that gum disease sufferers are at a higher risk for other diseases, it is critical to
maintain periodontal health in an effort to achieve overall health.

Dentists recommend daily oral care, including regular brushing and flossing, and routine visits to
the dentist to avoid gum disease. If gum disease develops, consultation with a dental professional such as a periodontist can lead to effective treatment. A periodontist is a dentist with three years of
additional specialized training in the prevention, diagnosis and     treatment of gum disease.

For more information on the role of inflammation in oral health, tips on how to prevent or treat gum
disease, to find out if you are at risk, visit perio.org.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation. Acute cases of inflammation are easily identifiable, and are oftencharacterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain around the affected area. While acute inflammation initially intends to heal the body, over time, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction or destruction of the infected tissues, and potentially more severe health complications.

Realizing Dr Duello's Vision for Dentistry in St. Louis!

Masters Institute is holding four CE sessions related to implant dentistry.

Dr. Duello's vision as a specialist in St. Louis has always been to enhance ALL dental care provided in St. Louis. One of the main ways of doing this is providing these mini courses in new technologies in the ever changing world of Implant dentistry. As a Key Opinion leader for the US Advisory Board for NobelBiocare, Dr. Duello has uniquely positioned himself to have access to the latest and greatest technologies available in implant dentistry and even utilize them before they are released for general use.

Dr. Duello providing these complimentary mini-courses in the new protocols for single tooth implants in the anterior aesthetic zone and single tooth replacement in the posterior.zone in an effort to support his vision of dentistry in St. Louis.  The most challenging issue in implant dentistry is the single tooth implant in the aesthetic zone, while the most common treatment is the posterior implant treatment. Our goal, as dentists, is to help patients choose treatments that expedite tooth replacement and maintain a beautiful smile. Our first consideration is make sure that restorations are conservative, while optimizing implant placement for osseointegration. Secondly, we want to ensure peri-implant health after treatment. Peri-implantitis is strongly associated with cement retained crowns.  Dentists attending these courses will learn about the new Procera ASC screw retained crown and the new conical connection implants from Nobel. These new components allow more screw retained crowns to be placed, eliminating the cement retained crowns that are frequently associated with failed implants.

Dentistry is going digital

With all the new technology in the digital world, dentistry has jumped on the bandwagon with the use of computers to run the business, digital x-rays, laser cut crowns, 3D CAT scan, virtual surgical programs, etc.  Dr. Duello's program introduces the new Digital Workflow Concepts available to reduce patient visits and increase the precision of restorations, resulting in better fitting crowns delivered more quickly to the patient.  

The Courses are as follows:

Single Tooth Implants in the Esthetic Zone-New Protocols

Wed, Jan 27, 2106 & Thur, Feb 4, 2016 

Dental Implants for Posterior Single Teeth-New Protocols

Wed, Mar 2, 2016 & Thur, Mar 10 2016