At Smiles by Shields, we work with patients to prevent periodontal disease and to restore healthy oral care with the least intervention possible. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the oral cavity, and it disproportionately affects African Americans.

Periodontal disease has also been identified as a risk factor for kidney disease. To investigate this link, researchers analyzed 699 African American adults who underwent complete dental examinations. During an average follow-up of 4.8 years, there were 21 (3.0%) new cases of kidney disease. Participants with severe periodontal disease had a 4.2-fold greater incidence of kidney disease after adjusting for various factors (age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and income) compared with those without severe periodontal disease.

In practice, this means targeting patients for periodontal disease prevention as well as aggressive treatment of periodontal disease once it begins. If you have questions about your oral health and your well-being, contact Dr. Tiffany K. Shields today for your next dental examination and cleaning.