Systemic Antibiotics can be Bad but Heart Attacks are Worse

Posted on August 25, 2017May 19, 2021 by John Kempton DDS

I am going to ask the question, would you agree antibiotics can be bad but heart attacks are worse? As this is part 3 of my series, I hope I am hearing a unified “Yes”. In my opinion, systemic antibiotic should be used in an attempt to lessen the translocated pathogens. The high-risk patient is no longer capable of fighting, resisting, or diminishing the pathogenic loads on their own and the systemic antibiotic is an option. Yes there is a risk of antibiotic adverse reaction but a heart atta...

Dentistry is Medicine

Posted on August 18, 2017May 19, 2021 by John Kempton DDS

In the previous blog, we discussed that the use of systemic antibiotics, for high-risk patients may currently be the most effective method to treat the systemic impact of translocated periodontal pathogens. As periodontal treatment plans are formatted, utilizing a MyPerioPath test assists in determining the pathogen profile of the periodontal infection and provides evidence- based systemic antibiotic selection. If dentistry is medicine, then utilizing a test to confirm the presence of bacte...

Routine dental hygiene… is never routine!

Posted on August 11, 2017May 19, 2021 by John Kempton DDS

The Merrian-Webster defines paradigm shift as “an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way.” There is a definite paradigm shift in dentistry and a strive to parallel our dental profession to our medical counterparts. Dr John Kempton is on this front line, helping address oral systemic health with direct patient care and as a leader inspiring others to a higher quality of care. Dr John Kempton will be our gues...

The Medical History Form and Salivary Diagnostics

Posted on July 28, 2017May 19, 2021 by Traci Warner, RDH

A medical history form is a starting point to guide conversations and to make connections between oral health and overall health. Consider re-configuring your current medical history form to quickly be able to visualize oral systemic connections and/ or concerns. These 5 questions should be asked on your current health history form. 1) Has a parent, sibling or grandparent had a heart attack or stroke? Yes__ No__ 2) Has a parent, sibling or grandparent had diabetes? Yes__ No__ 3) Has a p...

Communicating with Patients about Nicotine and Perio

Posted on July 21, 2017May 19, 2021 by Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH

During a recent in-office team workshop, we were discussing nicotine use and its dramatic effects on the progression of periodontal disease. To help the team fully understand the consequences of nicotine use, we talked about vasoconstriction and how smoking masks the true level of periodontal infection. The vasoconstrictive properties of smoking reduce blood flow and, in turn, oxygen to the tissue, resulting in gums that do not bleed or have reduced bleeding. Smoking patients have pockets th...