Dental Tribune U.S.Edition No.5, 2017

IMPLANT TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Implant Newspaper · U.S. Edition MAY 2017 — Vol. 12, No. 5 www.dental-tribune.com Study links periodontal disease, tooth loss and higher risk of death By Dental Tribune International Staff A new study has suggested that overall mortality in the general population, and older women in particular, could be reduced by im- proving periodontal health. Evaluat- ing data on more than 57,000 post- menopausal women, researchers at the University at Buffalo found that presence of periodontitis and tooth loss is associated with a significantly higher risk of death. The women in the study were aged between 55–89, had no known cardio- vascular disease events and were orig- inally enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative observational study. In the study population, the prevalence of periodontitis and edentulism was 26 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. During a mean follow-up period of 6.7 years, the researchers recorded 3,589 cardiovascular disease events and 3,816 deaths. They also found that a history of periodontal disease was associated with a 12 percent higher risk of death and the loss of all natural teeth was associated with a 17 percent higher risk. “Our findings suggest that older women may be at higher risk for death because of their periodontal condition and may benefit from more intensive oral screening measures,” said Dr. Michael J. LaMonte, lead au- thor and research associate profes- sor in the university’s Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health. “However, studies of inter- ventions aimed at improving peri- odontal health are needed to deter- mine whether risk of death is lowered among those receiving the interven- tion compared to those who do not. Our study was not able to establish a direct cause and effect.” According to the Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention, al- most 50 percent of adults in the United States ages 30 and older have some form of periodontal dis- ease. It is estimated that about 20 percent of adults aged 65 and old- er in the country are edentulous. The study, titled “History of periodon- titis diagnosis and edentulism as predictors of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality in postmeno- pausal women,” was published in the April issue of the Journal of the Amer- ican Heart Association. From left, Dr. Alan S. Pollock, who just finished his term as AO President, Jay P. Malmquist, who recently achieved fellowship status with the AO, and Dr. Michael R. Norton, who just became AO’s 31st president. Photos/Provided by the AO Four clinicians achieve AO Fellowship status By AO Staff Four individuals were honored for achieving fellowship status in the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) during the group’s 2017 an- nual meeting in Orlando, Fla. From left, Dr. Zvi Artzi, Dr. Jeffrey Lloyd and Dr. John Lupovici joined Malmquist in acheiving fellowship status with the AO. Fellowship in the academy is obtained by demonstrating a commitment to the field of osseointegration. Members must excel in both academics as well as service to the academy. The first recognized fellow was Dr. Zvi Artzi, a periodontist who attended the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Ha- dassah School of Dental Medicine. He is a professor in the Department of Periodon- tology at the School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University and the chairman of the National Board Scientific Council of Periodontology in the Minister of Health. A member of the academy since 1991, Artzi is the ambassador for AO’s Charter Chapter in Israel and has served on the AO/OF Research Grant Committee. He has authored nearly 100 scientific articles and research abstracts in periodontology and oral implantology. The second newly elected fellow was Dr. Jeffrey Lloyd. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and immediately went into private practice in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where he still practices today. Lloyd is a member of AO’s board of directors and very active in the field of dentistry. He previously held numerous leadership appointments with the Academy of Gen- eral Dentistry, Academy for Sports Den- tistry and World Clinical Laser Institute. Since joining the academy in 1995, he has chaired AO’s Membership Committee ” See FELLOWSHIP, page B2

Dental Tribune U.S.Edition No.5, 2017

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