Study sheds new light on why some people may be more prone to serious gum infection
A team led by University of Washington researchers has, for the first time, identified and classified how different people respond to the accumulation of dental plaque, the sticky biofilm that gathers on teeth. Their work, recently published in the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), sheds important new light on why some people may be more prone to serious conditions that lead to tooth loss and other problems.
Left unchecked, plaque buildup can induce gingivitis, or gum inflammation. Gingivitis, in turn, can lead to periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and can destroy the bone that supports teeth. Not only can this result in tooth loss, but chronic inflammation can also spur other serious health consequences, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and bowel diseases.
Study reveals new aspects of gingivitis and body s response
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Burnout making dental students think twice about dentistry
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Bellevue dentist addresses racial inequities in dental care Tracey Leong
Board-certified oral implantologist Dr. LeRoy Horton is working to change the lack of Black representation within the dental field.
“About 3.7% of actively practicing dentists are Black, and keep in mind we make up about 13.5% of the population, so there is a huge disparity in representation,” said Dr. Horton.
Dr. Horton believes this nationwide statistic contributes to poor oral health for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) community.
Originally from Greece, Dr. Horton graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. He attended Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Washington (UW) School of Dentistry. Today, he has practices in Bellevue and Covington and is dedicated to addressing the needs of those with limited access to dental care.