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No More “Scraping” for Gum Disease
Published in Chicago Image magazine, July 2004

The standard of care for gum disease (periodontal health) is changing.  For a century, sharp instruments used to scrape and remove bacteria have been looked upon as the ideal treatment for gum disease.  This is no longer the case. The old treatment of scraping and scaling gum tissues, resulting in an experience of pain and sensitivity is now in the past.

Today, a new technique involving low level acoustic energy with water is the most advanced treatment available.  The new treatment is performed by using an ultrasonic instrument around the tissue with water acting as a whirlpool to remove disease and bacteria.  These ultrasonic instruments require only a light touch and no exertion of pressure. Because of this, there is no required anesthetic (shots), and each visit is less time involved.  This treatment is a welcome change for patients who have found the past combination of clinical force and sharp blades traumatic.

This unique procedure focuses on stopping the progress of periodontal disease and preventing further infection, so it goes beyond the traditional scaling and scraping. The “scraping” done in the past removed some of the symptoms of the disease process, as well as, healthy tissue and dentition.  The old methods never addressed the cause of disease. So, people have been enduring traumatic treatment without really being healthy.

There is now strong evidence and scientific literature describing the links of periodontal disease with health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, low birth weight and pre-term babies, respiratory infection, obesity, and even Alzheimer’s.  With all of these contributing factors to one’s overall health the treatment of periodontal disease should be easy and comfortable.   The new technique and philosophy in periodontal therapy now can produce a lifetime of health without pain and discomfort.

John J. Kelly DDS
The Art and Architecture of the Mouth

 

Anti-Aging Dentistry
Published in Chicago Image magazine, September 2004

When it comes to reducing the signs of aging, aesthetic dentistry should be a high priority.  When people look for the solutions to turn back the hands of time on their looks, they often overlook one of the unexpected problems of aging: the appearance of their mouth.  A person could spend ample time and money on skin treatments, only to continue to be disappointed in the countenance that looks back at them in the mirror. Plastic surgery can reduce the tell tale signs of aging, but surgery can be both painful and time consuming.  Implants surgically placed will alter facial structures, but never repair the wear and damage of time to their mouth.  In their pursuit of recreating a youthful appearance, people overlook the visible signs of aging on their teeth and smile.

The mouth is a major piece of the puzzle. As smiles age with time this alone can unscramble the beauty of the face.  Smiles stain with age.  Teeth wear with age.  As teeth wear down, they provide less support to the lips and skin around the mouth.  A dark negative space can be seen in the back corners of the mouth.  Missing and worn down teeth result in the sucked in and collapsed appearance around the mouth, which causes vertical lines on the upper and lower lips and all around the mouth.  The effects don’t stop there.  Because the tension on the skin of the face has been slackened the whole face is affected.  The jaw line loosens, the chin falls, the cheeks flatten, and the eyes and forehead appear wrinkled.  Wrinkles in the skin become more prominent.  The smile becomes shorter and the brightness of teeth fades.  With all of this the overall face becomes shorter.

Unlike a surgical facelift which only produces a cosmetic change, dental rejuvenation truly has an anti-aging effect.  You may have heard about the effect of free radicals in facial aging and aging in general.  The more free radicals there are the more damage there is to the cells, causing cells to die.  The net effect of anti-aging dentistry is that the invigorated facial muscles quickly produce enzymes that get rid of the free radicals.  Also, by bringing more oxygen to the cells the body repairs many of the blood capillaries which are deteriorating due to age.  Declines in skeletal muscle mass and strength and increased muscle fatigability are consequences of advancing age.  With anti-aging dental techniques the underlying structure of your face changes stretching and building muscles and improving bone structure.  In contrast to other treatments aesthetic dentistry can truly be anti-aging.

Another aspect to look at as we age is how we function.  As we age our mouths function through natural interferences and older dental restorations. Our overall muscular structure changes. People may perceive chronic symptoms of headaches, neck discomfort, shoulder stiffness, and tingling in the fingers as sign of aging when all that is involved is poor function of the mouth.


Advanced dental care working with the Art and Architecture of the Mouth can take a comprehensive, non surgical approach to properly aligning your mouth, removing decay and disease, and creating a beautiful smile. The result is a healthy exquisite smile, and with proper care and periodic cleaning you may never have to have anything done to your teeth or mouth again. Your youth stems from the feelings you emit and what others perceive.  As your smile remains beautiful and healthy so does your life.


John J. Kelly DDS
The Art and Architecture of the Mouth


Health Risks Associated with Gum Disease
Published in the Reporter newspaper, August 2004


  1. Heart Disease –

    Those with periodontal disease have increased risk for fatal heart attack and are more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.  Diseased gums release significantly higher levels of bacterial pro-inflammatory components into the bloodstream.  As a result these components in the blood travel to other organs in the body, primarily the heart, and cause harm. These components in the blood stream trigger the liver to make C-reactive proteins, which is a predictor for increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

  2. Preterm or low birth weight babies –

    Women with advanced periodontal disease may be more likely to give birth to an underweight or preterm baby.  Periodontal infections cause a faster-than-normal increase in the levels of prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor molecules that induce labor, thus causing premature delivery before the fetus can grow to a normal birth weight.  Also, oral bacteria can cross the placental barrier, exposing the fetus to infection.

  3. Diabetes –

    People with diabetes are more prone to developing periodontal disease; thus, periodontal disease is a risk factor for diabetes.  Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and activate immune cells.  These activated cells produce inflammatory biologic signals (cytokines) that have a destructive effect throughout the body.  In the pancreas cells responsible for insulin production can be damaged or destroyed by the chronic high levels of cytokines.  Once this happens it may induce Type II diabetes, even in otherwise healthy individuals with no risk factors for diabetes.

  4. Respiratory Infection –

    Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be inhaled into the lungs cause respiratory diseases.  People with respiratory diseases typically suffer from reduced protective systems making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.

  5. Arthritis –

    Periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis have very similar pathologies.  Damage caused by the immune system and chronic inflammation is central to both diseases.  Periodontal infection may trigger the arthritic disease process since it was found that people who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis were more than twice as likely to have periodontal disease as a control group.  Also, it was found that the progression of periodontal disease in the arthritis group was due to factors other than a difference in oral hygiene.

  6. Obesity –

    People who consume less than the recommended dietary allowance of calcium and vitamin C have a higher rate for periodontal disease.  People that were studied in an obese group found a significant decrease in raw fruit, and non-potato vegetables, which are high sources of vitamin C.  Also, the obese group was found to be ingesting soft drinks and non-citrus juices rather than milk and healthier beverages.  Another factor seen was the social stigma of obesity.  Chronic stress was seen in this group which has been found to increase the risk of periodontal disease.

  7. Stroke –

    The arterial walls in people found with chronic periodontal disease were found to be ½ a millimeter thicker than normal.   Long term inflammation and activation of white blood cells caused by periodontal disease increases plaque formation in arterial walls which can lead to stroke.  Oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contributing to clot formation.  Also, the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque buildup which contributes to swelling of the arteries.  Bacteria from the mouth may cause clotting in the cardiovascular system.

 

Chicago Area Dentist Offers Free teeth whitening to Benefit
Women In Need foundation

John J. Kelly DDS is offering free teeth whitening with sponsorships to the Women In Need foundation.  W.I.N. is a non-profit organization for abused women and children.  The foundation offers a 20 week abuse recovery program called Right Living.  The comprehensive program boasts of a 98% no repeat rate.  W.I.N.’s goal through the counseling and education program is to provide counseling so the cycle of abuse can stop as well as provide education so the cycle never begins.  “This is a much needed program to keep the American family from failing. The goals of providing programs for women and children in need give everyone the opportunity to heal.”, Dr. Kelly states.
Anyone interested in whitening their smile can now sponsor the W.I.N. foundation with a charitable contribution.  Dr. Kelly will provide his whitening service free to those wishing to enhance their smile and the life of someone in abuse.
Those that are interested in taking part in this valuable project please call Dr. Kelly’s office at 773-631-6844.  To find out more information about W.I.N. look to www.womeninneed.org.

 

Local Dentist Volunteers in AACD’s Give Back a Smile Program
For Domestic Violence Survivors

June 24, 2003 Madison WI – Local American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) dentist John J. Kelly, DDS has joined the AACD’s Give Back A Smile program to fight domestic violence by providing free consultation and dental treatment to restore the smiles of survivors.
    “Through the Give Back a Smile program, AACD members like me assist survivors by treating their smiles, their self-esteem, and ultimately, their lives” commented Dr. Kelly of Chicago, Illinois.
    For complete details visit the GBAS website at www.givebackasmile.com.

 

The Art of Smile Enhancement with Porcelain
Published in Chicago Magazine, Fall 2003

Most people don't realize how important the mouth can be to an individual's emotional and physical well being.  The way your teeth look when you smile can affect the way you feel about yourself. One of the first things we notice in a person's face is their mouth and smile... or lack thereof.  A genuine smile can actually induce feelings of pleasure even if the smile is that of a stranger in a photograph.  It is no wonder that most magazine and television advertisements include people with gorgeous teeth, laughing and smiling.  Marketing experts are well aware of the pleasure power of smiles.

Porcelains used to enhance your smile are a well established advance in aesthetic dentistry.   Reshaping your teeth and bonding thin ceramic masks to your own tooth structure is state of the art in dentistry.  These techniques can be used to whiten teeth, give teeth a nicer shape, close spaces, increase longevity, as well as improve tooth and overall function.  Since the porcelains become part of you these materials will last a very long time and will prevent further discoloration, fractures, and overall wear of your teeth.  The treatment with porcelains can take anywhere from only two to four appointments.  Each case is unique, but with advanced dentistry this treatment can be done quickly.

Because each patient is different there are several factors which impact the outcome of your smile:  Face shape, tooth color, tooth size, missing teeth, crooked teeth, worn teeth, chipped teeth, discoloration, uneven or excessive display of the gum tissue, underlying skeletal malformations, and unattractive or failing previous dentistry that can be recent or quite old.

In comparison to bleaching, porcelains will brighten your teeth to a color you choose and remain for an extremely long time with better overall shape.  In comparison to outdated crowns and "caps", which are opaque and can give black lines, porcelains are natural looking and mimic the natural translucency of teeth.

To bring this all together a complete understanding of smile design is mandatory when delivering optimum facial aesthetics.  Having a firm grasp of golden proportions, width to length ratios, inclinations, gingival contours and spatial deficiencies is important to the development of a healthy, natural looking smile.  Ultimately the dentist's skill level and knowledge will determine what treatment is rendered.  With the proper care, skill, and judgment the aesthetic objective is attainable.

You may discover that making changes to your smile can change your life.

John J. Kelly DDS
The Art & Architecture of the Mouth

 

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