Information for Doctors
and Dental Hygienists
11/30/2005 PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS STUDY CLUB. A
course sponsored by Drs. Christopher, Favagehi & Zimmer Dental. Speaker: Dr. Thomas C. Waldrop, The co-Director of The American Board of Periodontology, and Program Director of The Periodontics Residency at The Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Dr. Waldrop retired from the USAF in 1997 after over 25 years of service as a USAF Periodontist and Residency Director. The Lecture is at The Tysons Corner Mortons open to 40 Dentists (RSVP (703) 237-3700 required).
12/2/2002 PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANT STUDY CLUB. A
course for dentists sponsored by our office and Zimmer Dental Implant Company. Speakers: Dr. Christopher, and Dr. Favagehi. Three lectures:
1) Gingival Grafting: The Sub-Epithelial Connective Tissue Graft
2) Maxillary Sinus bone graft techniques to buildup the site for implants
3) Psychoneuroimmunology: Clinical implications regading wound healing-
Mortons Tysons Corner, about 40 participants included Dentists, Pediatric & Orthodontic Specialists, a Pharmacist, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Dental Assistants
10/21/2004 VIRGINIA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION-
ANNUAL MEETING 2004. Dr. Favagehi was invited to speak about the Public Health Implications of Psychoneuroimmunology. His Research in Psychoneuroimmunology involving stress and wound healing was presented.
11/8/2002 - 11/9/2002 SURGICAL COURSE FOR PERIODONTISTS-
Maxillary sinus lift, bone grafting and implant placement. Participants
observed this technique on 3 volunteer patients. Participants included out of
state periodontists from Ohio, and North Carolina.
12/16/2002
Periodontal Disease, C-Reactive
Protein and Overall Health. A course for
doctors, Hygienists and staff. JOURNAL STUDY CLUB:
Researchers have known for quite some time that elevated C-reactive
protein (CRP) levels increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. A
recent study published in
The New
England Journal of Medicine identified elevated CRP levels as a
stronger predictor of heart attacks than elevated cholesterol levels, and
recommended CRP and cholesterol screening for accurate risk assessment of
cardiovascular disease.
However, many clinicians were unclear of the cause of elevated CRP levels.
A study published earlier this year in the
Journal of Periodontology reported that inflammatory effects
from periodontal disease, a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, cause
oral bacterial byproducts to enter the bloodstream and trigger the liver to
make proteins such as CRP that inflame arteries and promote blood clot
formation.
“Periodontal disease needs to be considered as a major contributor to
increased levels of CRP by the medical community,” said Dr. Steven Offenbacher,
study co-author and member of the American Academy of Periodontology.
Previous studies reported that inflammatory effects from periodontal
disease could cause oral bacterial byproducts to enter the bloodstream and
trigger the liver to make proteins such as CRP that inflame arteries. In
addition, these effects may cause blood clots that contribute to clogged
arteries leading to heart attacks or strokes.
“What makes the recent findings noteworthy is that oral examinations were
conducted on more than 5,000 adults in four U.S. communities already
participating in a study to determine the risk of atherosclerosis,” said
Offenbacher. “This is most likely the largest study confirming that
periodontal disease and body mass index are jointly associated with increased
levels of CRP in healthy adults.”
He added, “To reduce levels of CRP, and presumably the risk of
cardiovascular disease, not only would it be important to lose weight if you
are overweight, but it would also be important to get your gums treated.”
CRP testing is now available in many hospitals and health centers. The
American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
are developing a summary on whether CRP levels should be routinely tested to
diagnose heart disease or to monitor progress of treatments.
Our office conference room
