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Dr Ray Lansdowne
Dr. Ray Lansdowne a Wichita native, attended Friends University, graduated from Baylor University College of Dentistry, and served in the Air Force as a dentist before taking over an existing Pediatric Dentistry practice in Wichita. Although Dr. Lansdowne does not specialize in children's dentistry, he holds a special place in his heart for serving children's dental needs. Currently, he is the first General Dentist to serve as Trustee for the A.A.P.D. (American Assoc. of Pediatric Dentistry). Alpha Omega Dental Center at 250 N. Tyler Rd., is a state of the art Family Dental Practice. He is active in numerous dental organizations and has served on various committees, boards and in elected office for local, state and national dental organizations. Reach him by e-mail at rlansdds@aol.com or fax at (316) 729-2754.
Dental
2003-06-01 10:13:00
Pyorrhea
QUESTION:  I'm in my early 50s, evidently have pyorrhea and probably will lose my teeth.  I don't understand how it could happen.  I brush my teeth two times a day and have my teeth cleaned fairly often.  Now, all of a sudden, I have pyorrhea.  My parents and grandparents all had dentures.  Is there any hope that I can keep my natural teeth and what can be done to keep my kids and grandkids from this same fate?
ANSWER: There are two parts to your question.  I will address the first part in this issue and the second part concerning your offspring in another issue of the Q & A Times.   For those that may not know, Pyorrhea means "a flow of pus".  The general disease you speak of is 'Pyorrhea Alveolaris' or Periodontal disease.  It is characterized by a loss of support of the teeth.  Bacterium (germs) build up around the teeth, the gums become inflamed and pull away from the teeth forming pockets.  The pockets as they deepen harbor more types and numbers of bacteria.  As the process continues, the alveolar bone (this is the bone that surrounds the teeth) is lost, and the end result is loosening of the teeth, which ultimately fall out if left untreated.  There are many factors that contribute to periodontal disease, but primarily it is the body's response to certain types of bacterium that are toxic to one's system.  I will attempt to explain it in more easily understood terms: the body's immune system interprets the tooth, around which the bacteria organize and attach, as the foreign body.  As the body tries to isolate the tooth (now considered a foreign body) from one's body, periodontal pockets form.  As the population of bacterium increases, their waste products also increase and pus is one of those waste products, which flows from the pockets.  Ultimately, the defense mechanism succeeds or perhaps fails, and the tooth is isolated and sloughs from the body, allowing a layer of skin to protect the body from further invasion albeit without the tooth or in most cases teeth.  If adequate measures are instituted early enough, it is possible to arrest the process and maintain one's teeth for many years to come and perhaps for a lifetime.  The earlier the process of arresting the disease begins, the better the outcome.  Prevention of the disease is the best measure.  The old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is certainly applicable here.   I would encourage you to seek the services of a dentist that will, as a part of the cleaning/exam process, measure the depth of pocket formation around your teeth, evaluate the extent of any disease present and assist you in arresting the disease.  The dentist will not be able to stop the disease process alone.  It takes a very active role by the patient to control the disease.  Without a personal evaluation and examination, including necessary X-rays, it is not possible to determine the extent or prognosis of your particular situation.  Periodontal disease at present is not curable, at least not in the way of returning to the health prior to the onset of the disease, but the earlier one treats the disease the more likely one is to retain one's teeth.  It may not be too late even for you.   Other factors that contribute to the breakdown process include tobacco product usage, hereditary factors (immune response, saliva quality and quantity), environmental factors (diet, beneficial and harmful habits, ability and willingness to effectively clean the teeth on a daily basis, how the teeth are positioned), and certain systemic complications that predispose (not actually cause) one to 'get' periodontal disease.  Bad teeth run in families, but they run in families with adopted kids as well.  That gets us into the second part of your question, which I will address in a future article.  This is what parenting is all about, making life more abundantly successful and healthy for our children and their children's children.
 
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