Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease

There are a number of health conditions that have consequences for a patient’s teeth and gums, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common. Dr. Stephanie Herbst of Enid Dental Care understands her patients’ needs and wants patients with RA to know they can expect compassionate care for gum disease.

 When people have RA, their immune system attacks their synovium, which is a tissue that lines the joints. The attacked synovium swells up and hardens, sometimes causing joint deformities. Johns Hopkins recently examined the connection between gingivitis and rheumatism. They found that people with RA are twice as likely as the average person to have gum disease and six times as likely to have severe gum disease. It is true that people with rheumatism commonly have limited dexterity and find it difficult to brush and floss. But another study found that synovium and gum tissue share similar cellular structures. This could help to explain why gum disease is common in people with RA who have not yet lost the use of their fingers.

By maintaining regular dental check-ups, people with RA can keep their gum pockets as clean as possible. We can assist them by guiding them toward grips for toothbrushes and prescription throat moisturizers. RA is believed to be caused by genetic and environmental factors, but people can significantly reduce their risk of developing it by not smoking.

Dr. Stephanie Herbst operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Reasons for Extractions

Tooth extractions are a common procedure and usually go quickly and comfortably. But removing a tooth is not recommended lightly. At Enid Dental Care, now under the operation of Dr. Stephanie Herbst, we believe that patients should be fully informed about their health options, which is why we want them to know what kinds of issues would lead to an extraction.

In most cases, extractions are done in response to dental overcrowding. Modern peoples’ jaws do not usually grow large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth (the backmost set of molars). As a result, the wisdom teeth commonly get stuck while erupting or force other teeth out of the way, ruining their alignment. Other teeth can be impacted, too, and although they wouldn’t usually be extracted, baby teeth might be removed if they don’t fall out and premolars are sometimes removed prior to orthodontic treatment.

There are a number of ways to save teeth that have been infected or injured, but sometimes they or the surrounding gum tissue are so compromised they need to be removed. This could happen if a tooth is cracked at the root. An implant that has become loose also needs to be removed, so patients with artificial teeth need to be especially vigilant about brushing.

Dr. Stephanie Herbst operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.