Category: <span>Articles</span>

Evidence has been accumulating in recent years pointing to possible connections between periodontal disease and various systemic illnesses including dementia and diabetes. While the connections are important, the information can be contradictory. It may bring to mind the ancient paradox about whether the egg or the chicken came first. (Technically, eggs long preceded chickens.)

As explained in a Medical News Today article from 2022, the evidence shows that many people with dementia have developed significant gum diseases. The question, however, is this: Since severe cognitive impairment causes people to neglect their oral health, leading to periodontal illness, is that the only connection? Or, has periodontal illness made sufferers more vulnerable to contracting serious cognitive ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease? Could the problem be what doctors call bidirectional: a vicious circle of cognitive impairment worsening self-care, making already present periodontal issues that much worse, leading to more dementia?

The Medical News article presents a lot of interesting data along with plenty of contradictions and caveats but it does make one clear recommendation that is just good common sense. If you are concerned about dealing with dementia in your later years, it makes sense to maintain good oral health habits and watch out for any possible periodontal issues.

Even if the causation all flows in a single direction and cognitive impairment leads to periodontal illness but not the other way around, the “worst” thing that can happen is that you may not have to deal with the pain and unpleasantness associated with periodontal problems on top of whatever health problems you wind up suffering as you age. The best outcome is that you’ll have helped prevent lost teeth and maybe dementia also. A twofer!

Protect Your Periodontal Health

Aging is inevitable but we make our middle and later years a lot more productive and enjoyable by preventing illnesses, including periodontal disease. Medical science is getting better and better at extending our lifespans despite our health problems. What many of us fail to realize, however, is that even if we recover from heart attacks, strokes, and other common health emergencies, recovery always means time spent in significant discomfort and may be only partial. Engaging in healthy behaviors and avoiding unhealthy habits can not only add years to our lives but also, as the old saying puts it, “life to our years.”

The longer you can protect your teeth and gums while you are reasonably healthy, the less vulnerable they will be when your health starts to decline. Painful oral health problems will be one less difficulty for you and your family.

Stay on Top of Your Oral Health

Dr. Peiman Soleymani is one of the nation’s leading periodontists and implantologists as well as a widely published expert in his field. His team of expert oral health care professionals at Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implant Center has helped countless people from throughout the Los Angeles area and beyond recover from a wide variety of periodontal illnesses as well as helping to provide dental implants.

Our advice on protecting your health is clear though mostly very familiar: Floss, brush twice daily for at least two minutes with a fluoridated toothpaste, see an oral health professional twice yearly, and watch out for the signs of periodontal illness – including bleeding, painful gums (even just a pink toothbrush is cause for concern), and persistent bad breath (halitosis). When these issues appear, it’s time to consult with the best oral health professional you can find.

Concerned About Your Gums? Interested in Dental Implants?

If so, Dr. Peiman Soleymani and his team at Beverly Hills Periodontics and Dental Implant Center want to hear from you. Call us at the phone number on your screen or reach out electronically to schedule a consultation.

Should Anyone Still be Worried about Seeing a Periodontist?

No. First, oral health care from a reputable practitioner is extremely safe for everyone, including those who may be especially vulnerable. Second, the ongoing pandemic makes it more urgent than ever for those who need it to obtain first-rate periodontal disease treatment as quickly as possible.

What’s Changed Since the Early Days of the Pandemic?

There was a great deal of uncertainty during the early days of the Covid-19 crisis and the priority was slowing the spread of the virus.

With offices limiting visitors to more urgent cases, many people put off routine dental care and may have ignored issues. Even now that offices have long ago developed protocols and are conducting normal business too many people are delaying oral health care indefinitely. That is never a good idea.

Yes, Covid-19 is still very serious business, especially for more vulnerable individuals. Those who are elderly and in poor health, immunocompromised, and who are unvaccinated for any reason have to show great care. However, while Covid-19 was a reason to temporarily put off routine oral health care in 2020, it is now a reason to prioritize periodontal treatment in particular.

Is There a Connection Between Periodontal Issues and Covid Mortality?

Quite likely, yes. We have known for a long time that periodontal problems may increase the threat of many systemic health issues. It also stands to reason that, like any other stressor, periodontal problems may negatively impact our immune system and make us more likely to pick up Covid-19, especially with current strains becoming more and more communicable. But there is more specific evidence.

A recent article in The Lancet looks into a 2021 Indian study that helped to confirm that people with issues such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease had higher Covid mortality rates. Taking a separate tack, The Lancet looked into patients in the study who had periodontal diseases. The article's authors found that people who had been found to have advanced periodontal problems appeared to have a higher mortality rate. “Patients with severe periodontitis are at much higher odds of requiring hospital admission and ventilation, developing COVID-19 pneumonia, and dying after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with COVID-19-positive patients with healthy gums,” wrote The Lancet.

Caring for Periodontal Problems and Limiting the Risk of Covid-19

Regardless of your status regarding Covid, it is more important than ever to maintain excellent dental hygiene. Bleeding gums, halitosis (bad breath), and pain are signs of potentially serious problems and be looked at as quickly as possible. Even seemingly minor signs, like a pink toothbrush indicating slight bleeding, should be looked at immediately.

The Highest Level of Care with Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implant Center

Our founder, Dr. Peiman Soleymani, is one of the nation’s leading periodontists. When patients present with gingivitis or its more advanced cousin, periodontitis, Dr. Soleymani is a master of such state-of-the-art treatments as laser gum surgery as well as scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) and other highly effective treatments.

Whether you are concerned about your gums or want to look into immediate dental implants with one of the nation’s most respected implantologists, Dr. Soleymani and his team want to hear from you. To get started, simply call the number below or visit our contact page.

If you’re researching dental implants in Los Angeles or anywhere else, you’ll notice that many oral health care professionals tend to focus exclusively on their functionality. But that's not the whole story.

Yes, implants are much more than prosthetics such as dentures and bridgework. They fully replace lost or extracted teeth, offer many oral health benefits, and generally do a great job at it – but, as a patient, you may have other concerns directly impacting your quality of life.

The fact of the matter is that, yes, dental implants have many benefits that have pleasant immediate impacts along with all of those important long terms ones. They allow patients to maintain a beautiful, attractive smile that’s nearly indistinguishable from a person’s original teeth – and they do this with a great deal more convenience than older types of dental prosthetics.

Our Smile Matters

As much as we might like to pretend that looks don’t matter, the reality is that our appearance plays an important role in nearly every aspect of our lives, both socially and in terms of our careers. Just as important, how we perceive our looks directly affects most peoples’ level of confidence. After all, nearly anyone would likely feel at least some embarrassment if a tooth is lost or extracted and not replaced – and the truth is that there will be some people who may make false assumptions about you based on even one visibly missing tooth.

Dental implants offer the very best permanent solution to this problem.

It’s true that dentures and bridgework are tried and true replacements for teeth and are much better than nothing. At the same time, they require special care, offer fewer health benefits, and may not be quite as attractive. Dental implants, however, are the gold standard solution in terms of appearance, oral health, and convenience. Patients care for them exactly the same way as they should be caring for their natural teeth.

The Best Dental Implants in Los Angeles

Are you ready to get the best dental implants in Los Angeles? Dr. Peiman Soleymani is one of Southern California’s foremost experts on dental implants as well as the health of the gums they rest on. As the founder of Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implant Center, Dr. Soleymani has helped countless patients find renewed confidence in their smiles.

To get started, simply call the number below or visit our contact page.

Periodontal work involves the most delicate and important area of the mouth: gums. Numerous studies have proven the importance of maintaining oral health in terms of preserving an individual’s overall wellbeing, and many of these studies start with the significance of healthy gums and ensuring that lost teeth are replaced. As such, entrusting your periodontal care to the best periodontist and oral implantologist you can find in the Los Angeles area only makes sense.

Who Is Dr. Peiman Soleymani?

Dr. Peiman Soleymani graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1997, where he later taught third and fourth-year dental students at the Department of Advanced Treatment Planning.  The doctor earned his degree in Periodontics and Dental Implantology from Oregon Health Sciences University a few years later in 2000. In 2008, Dr. Soleymani became a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. In total, he has served as a clinical instructor/lecturer for both the USC and UCLA schools of dentistry for over eighteen years.

Throughout his career, Dr. Soleymani has been involved with numerous research projects and has co-authored a scientific publication on the effects of nicotine on bone grafting and tissue healing. He has been a fixture in top oral health periodontal publications starting in the early 2000s.

Since founding Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implant Center, countless patients have left Dr. Soleymani’s center with healthier, more attractive smiles and what they often describe as the best experience they’ve had with an oral healthcare provider.

Dr. Soleymani has earned consistently outstanding patient reviews on social media sites such as Yelp; many emphasize his excellent bedside manner, caring demeanor, and most importantly, the kind of outstanding results that come with the highest level of expertise.

Contact Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implant Center

Don’t let your health and quality of life wait. If you are interested in learning more about periodontal treatment or dental implants with Dr. Soleymani, call our office today at the number on your screen or visit our contact page.