Getting to the Heart of Dental Disease

Before the discovery of penicillin, Rheumatic Fever was quite often a fatal disease. Those who contracted it and survived most often were left with a valvular heart defect which was caused by bacteria in the blood stream (bacteremia), which colonized on the heart valves causing the damage.

During this pre-penicillin era, Dr. Charles Bass* was the dean of Tulane University Medical School. Knowing the role of bacteria in this disease, he was at a loss to know how bacteria was introduced into the blood stream, as upon inspection of those children who had succumbed to the disease, he noted no cuts or bruises anywhere on their skin. Upon further inspection, he made an amazing discovery. Without exception, each victim had inflamed gums. He saw that there was no "skin" or lining in the inner crevice between the gums and teeth.

This discovery led him to conspire with Dr. Sumpter Arnum from the University of Texas Dental School to learn as much as he could about the "habits" of oral bacteria. Together, they discovered that colonies of bacteria "glue" onto the teeth and eventually grow into the crevices between the gums and teeth. Their waste products dissolve the epithelium (skin) lining next to the teeth. The bacteria then have an entry point into the blood stream. They also found out that if the bacterial colonies are broken up and removed from these areas, the gum lining grows back. They also discovered that after the colonies are removed, they re-appear in approximately 24 hours.

The "Bass" technic of introducing the toothbrush bristles into the crevice (sulcus) around the teeth is to this day taught to dental patients by dentists and dental hygienists. It is interesting to realize how one person's searching for an answer for a serious problem led him to discover a relatively simple preventive measure which is used routinely today.

Today it is also routine that dental patients who have valvular heart defects are premedicated with antibiotics prior to any dental procedures which might introduce bacteria into the blood stream, such as a dental prophylaxis (cleaning).

At the Dental Wellness Center, we take gum disease seriously and we are able to help people get healthy with the latest in diagnostic equipment, such as microscopes and treatment which is individually prescribed and monitored. The main reason people get healthy at the Dental Wellness Center, is the time taken and passion of the people who work with our clients. They form relationships. They extend information about their individualized problems and how to handle them so that they can become participants in their own health - this gives them more confidence about the state of their oral health than ever before.

* Charles C. Bass, M.D. American Heart Journal, St. Louis, Vol.69, pages 718-719, May 1965 excerpts:

"In almost all ailments of the heart caused by bacteria, the source of
infection is known to be the pathologic and infected environment of the teeth.

..the health, welfare and, even life itself, of persons who have heart conditions which predispose to infection may depend on prevention and control of dental disease.

..bacteria in the periodontal pocket and in diseased periodontal tissues are the source of almost all bacteremia from the environment of the teeth.

..I believe that, some time in the future, leading cardiologists will wonder, in retrospect, how information so needed by their patients could have been overlooked or neglected for so long."