IMPLANT TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Implant Newspaper · U.S. Edition FEBRUARY 2019 — Vol. 14, No. 2 www.dental-tribune.com Events kick off AO 2019 Periodontal disease bacteria linked to Alzheimer’s Periodontists stress the importance of gum health in at-risk groups By AAP Staff A recent study has periodontists encouraging patients to main- tain gum health in an effort to reduce their Alzheimer’s dis- ease risk. Hands-on workshops and pre-conference sessions have been announced for 2arch 13 as a kick-off to the AO 2019 Annual 2eeting, which takes place 2arch 13-16 in Washington, D.C. (Photo/Provided by AO) Full-day hands-on workshops, pre-conference sessions to provide head start for annual meeting By AO Staff On Wednesday, March 13, the Academy of Osseointegra- tion (AO) will be partnering with leading international corporations in implant dentistry to of- fer myriad hands-on workshops, as well as pre-conference sessions, as an oppor- tunity for members to earn C.E. credit toward the AO certificate in implant dentistry. All of these sessions will be offered as part of AO’s 34th annual meeting, taking place March 13–16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Hands-on workshops, fitting the multi-disciplinary nature of the annual meeting and the background of the at- tendees and membership, will offer reg- istrants the opportunity to fine-tune their skills using the newest materials and technology available today. New for 2019: These popular limited-attendance and often sold-out workshops will be full-day sessions (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The list of AO 2019 hands-on work- shop topics includes: H0w No. 1 • “Digital Solutions: Innovations in Single-Tooth Replacement,” with Mark Montana, DDS, and Joseph Schmidt, DDS. (Supported by a grant from Dentsply Sirona.) How No. 2 • “Modern Soft-Tissue Management with Applying Autogenous Transplants and Soft-Tissue Substitutes,” with Dan- iel Thoma, DMD. (Supported by a grant from Geistlich Biomaterials.) How No. 3 Maxillary and Mandibular Arches,” with Jay Neugarten, DDS, MD. (Support- ed by a grant from Nobel Biocare.) How No. 4 • “Implant-Supported Craniofacial Re- habilitation of the Resorbed or Resected Maxilla,” with Gregory Boyes-Varley, BDS, MD, and Dale Howes, BSc. (Dent), BDS, MDent (Pros), FCD(SA), FICD. (Sup- ported by a grant from Southern Im- plants.) How No. 5 Supported by a grant from Straumann: • Workshop No. 1: “Guided Sur- gery Treatment Planning Workflow,” with Adam Hamilton, BDSc, DCD. • Workshop No. 2: “The Chairside Work- flow for Tooth-Borne Restorations: Scan- ning, Designing and Milling a Crown” with Marcus Abboud, DMD, PhD, and • “The Edentulous Patient — Ad- vanced Surgical Techniques for both ” See AO, page B2 The study, published in the journal Science Advances, uncovered a poten- tial link between P. gingivalis, the bacte- ria associated with periodontal disease, and Alzheimer’s. Researchers analyzed brain tissue, spinal fluid and saliva from Alzheimer’s patients — both living and deceased — and found evidence of P. gingivalis. Gingipains, the toxic enzyme secreted by P. gingivalis, were found in 96 percent of the 53 brain tissue samples examined, with higher levels detected in those with the pathology and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, researchers including co- author Mark I. Ryder DMD, professor of periodontology at the University of Cali- fornia, San Francisco, noted that the pres- ence of P. gingivalis increased the produc- tion of amyloid beta, a component of the amyloid plaques whose accumulation contributes to Alzheimer’s. The study confirmed via animal testing that P. gin- givalis can travel from the mouth to the brain and that the related gingipains can destroy brain neurons. These findings are noteworthy in that they suggest a biologi- cal mechanism for how periodontal dis- ease bacteria may play a role in the devel- opment and progression of Alzheimer’s. According to Richard Kao, DDS, PhD, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), this study under- scores the important role of gum health on overall wellness. “Periodontists have long known that a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body, and research has suggested an association between periodontal dis- ease and dementia conditions, such as ” See DISEASE, page B2