Does poor oral health impact brain function?
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October 12, 2019
Perceived stress may detrimentally impact oral health which, in turn, may lead to cognitive decline among specific elderly communities, according to two new studies.
Oral health can be a surprisingly good indicator of a person’s well-being. Not only can oral diseases reduce a person’s quality of life, but they can also increase the risk of other serious conditions.
Researchers have linked gum disease and tooth loss to the occurrence of stroke. An article published in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology in 2010 concluded that gum disease could raise a person’s risk of heart disease by around 20%. It is, however, necessary to carry out more research in these areas.
Teams at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, have now focused on a different link — the one between oral health and cognitive decline.
A recently published review of 23 studies found evidence of a relationship between oral health and cognitive aspects, such as memory and executive function.
Now, a team from Rutgers University carried out two separate studies into cognitive decline and perceived stress. Both papers appear in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The Chinese American focus
The studies focused on Chinese American adults with a minimum age of 60. “Racial and ethnic minorities are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of poor oral health,” explains XinQi Dong, director of Rutgers University’s Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research.
He continues, “Minorities have less access to preventive dental care that is further exacerbated by language barriers and low socioeconomic status. Older Chinese Americans are at particular risk for experiencing oral health symptoms due to lack of dental insurance or not visiting a dental clinic regularly.”
Participants for both studies came from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). The first study quizzed people on their oral health and gave them five cognitive tests to complete.
The second study asked participants if they had ever experienced dry mouth issues. Researchers then asked them to measure their perceived stress, social support, and social strain levels using pre-defined scales.
Social support referred to how often they felt able to open up to or rely on their family members or friends. Researchers defined social strain as how often participants experienced excessive demands or criticism from friends or relatives.
A cognitive link
Out of the more than 2,700 Chinese Americans interviewed, almost half reported tooth-related symptoms. Just over a quarter said they had experienced dry mouth.
There was no significant relationship between gum and cognitive problems. However, researchers believe participants may have been less likely to report gum symptoms due to finding them less problematic.
The researchers did find a link between cognitive decline — specifically global cognition and episodic memory decline — and tooth symptoms. Episodic memory issues themselves have a link to the onset of dementia.
The researchers found a similar association in the second study. Those who reported more perceived stress were more likely to report dry mouth. Spousal social support or strain did not reduce this relationship, but support from friends appeared to protect against dry mouth in some way.
“However, the potential overload of such support could be detrimental to oral health outcomes among older Chinese Americans,” notes study author Weiyu Mao, assistant professor at the University of Nevada’s School of Social Work.
Oral health is key
Any conclusion formed from self-reported data has its limitations. However, the team believes their findings point to a need for better awareness of immigrant health and psychosocial influences on said health.
Dong says they “demonstrate the importance of examining immigrant oral health outcomes later in life to understand the specific type of outcomes of different cultural groups.”
“The studies further serve as a call to action for policymakers to develop programs aimed at improving oral health preventive and dental care services in this high risk population,” said XinQi Dong.
Ensuring good oral health of older Chinese Americans should be a primary goal, according to the team.
Mao notes, “intervention strategies need to expand beyond the common risk factors, such as health conditions and health behaviors, and account for the psychosocial determinants, including stress and social support.” Inclusive efforts such as these could even go some way to reducing cognitive decline.
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I became aware of Dr. Amy’s work from a friend who had a full mouth restoration. The work she had completed on him made me a believer. He has a beautiful, natural looking mouth full of natural looking teeth, a mouth that is fully functional and efficient plus a winning smile. My need was smaller but the experience just as perfect. I have 2 titanium implants that were done years ago with much more discomfort and drama; I wish they were ceramic as I believe titanium is much less biologically friendly and less forgiving to the jaw and natural teeth and in fact the titanium in my mouth has compromised my upper jaw bone, thus the decision to go ceramic. Dr. Amy is thorough in her assessment of the total structure of the mouth and head, she is concise in deciding about what her goal is and what your need is and how it applies to function, her skill is accurate and perfect (and sometimes humorous - I swear she had me in a headlock drilling to perfect the ceramic base prep for the crown which is perfect in fit. She doesn’t compromise her work for propriety. It was such a natural laugh moment. She’s so honest.) She provides state of the art technical support and imaging. It’s like my implant and crown are original teeth. I’ve had way too much dental work and am fortunate to still have a viable mouth but the work she has done (1 implant and 1 live tooth crown) is the most comfortable and non invasive work I’ve had. She provides appropriate sedation. Is affordable. She worked on me with thought, compassion and perfection and didn’t compromise integrity. I wanted this short and concise so it would be read but it’s just impossible. Can’t quit without praising Argy and Allie, thanks for your help and attention. I love that she has offices now in Mexico and the states. Good luck with your mouth journey.
Suzy Reed 
Dr. Amy Khajavi is a talented Doctor with a very caring nature. She goes out of her way to make the implant procedures a great experience. I wish I could give her more than 5 stars.
Thomas Finch
Great experience at Center for ceramic dental implants in Murrieta. I has two implants done with no complications. I will refer the office to my friends.
Danny Ayala
I visited Dr. Amy in both her Rosarito and Murrieta offices and found her staff and facilities to be very good. My experience with having two implants put in ranks with the best experience I have ever had in dental offices, despite this work being more serious than ordinary dental work I have had done in other places. I appreciate greatly the care they took with me and recommend Dr. Amy highly.
Frank Pascoe
Diamond in the rough! Nicest dental office I've seen in Orange County, let alone Tustin. Such nice sweet ladies and gentlemen! Dr. Alex Nguyen was very professional and kind. Based on his and Ginnie's treatment planning, compared to other dental offices I've been to, it appears that their options are not only HONEST, but they provided me with several routes I could take.. they left it up to ME to decide which way I wanted to go - of course they instructed me on the best route to take, but provided options to match my budget. After seeing Dr. Nguyen I spoke with Dr. Natalie Dang about getting some braces to straighten my teeth out. So far I have had my braces in for 2 months and I am already smiling more from having straighter teeth! Best decision I have ever made.
Suneel J
Dr.Lee. Geat services very professional.jannette was awesome!!!! I was very happy with everything...
Josie
Dr Amy is the absolute BEST!!! If you are looking for a oral Dr that is working with the latest cutting edge technology.. who is an absolute expert at what she does.. who is knowledgable.. kind and thorough.. then Dr Amy is the person you want working and healing your teeth/mouth/gums/bones. I've driven several times now from LA to see her and it is 1000% worth the trip. Do NOT think twice about choosing Dr Amy. I am beyond pleased with all she has done for me and she is also extremely fair with her pricing all while utilizing the latest technology to make your recovery and healing as robust as possible. Thanks Dr Amy... 5 STARS!!! <3
Stephen Muzzonigro
They are so unbiased it's ridiculous great professionalism and care couldn't be happier with my visit
Connor
Dr. Amy Khajavi is an excellent dentist. I needed two implants to replace my lower back molars and I decided to get zirconia implants because they were non-metal and high quality based on my research. I found Dr. Amy Khajavi on the Ceraroot zirconia implant website. I called all the dentists listed on their site with offices in the southwest USA and northern Mexico. On the phone, found Dr. Amy to be extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and professional. Her prices were also among the most reasonable. When I arrived at the clinic, I felt at ease and welcomed. She and her staff were very caring, kind, and respectful. She pulled one bad molar, removed part of a tooth that another dentist failed to remove on a former extraction, put in bone grafts, and put in the two zirconia implants. She did the surgery the first day, I stayed the night at the clinic, and left the next day. I have been to fourteen dentists in my life and so far I feel that there is no better dentist than Dr. Amy in terms of her skill, knowledge and honesty. She's also a good educator and communicator, explaining things clearly and patiently, making them easy to understand.She went above and beyond what was required--for instance, sitting down with me before I left to discuss a sinus issue she found in my catscan. She is generous with her time and fair on her pricing. When I returned home, I called her with some questions and she returned my call promptly with answers. I feel fortunate to have finally found a dentist that I feel confident about and trust.
Jordan S
When I was little I was in an accident that ended up cracking my front teeth. Long story short, I had to get a root canal and then twelve years later my tooth and the root canal had to be removed. I had no tooth for over a year and was getting by with a temporary flipper. Before finding Excellence Dental, I'd had a lot of bad experiences with two other Dental offices. I felt taken advantage of and mislead by both of those offices. After extensive research, I found Dr. Amy and she has truly been amazing. I explained my situation and she was sympathetic to my situation. She and her team got me in and started my 5-month journey from having no front tooth to finally getting a beautiful smile. They took the time to listen to me and my concerns, I never felt rushed while I was in the chair and the attention to detail was so incredibly thorough. I felt safe putting my smile in Dr. Amy's hands.
Katlyn F
My first visit to Rosarito to consult with Dr. Amy was in September of 2018. I had a front tooth that had died and an infected tooth in the back. I knew I didn't want a root canal or metal in my mouth. I spent hours researching on the internet to come up with a solution and finally found Ceraroot and Dr. Amy. I was encouraged by the positive reviews at Excellence Dental. I even reached out to a patient that had written a review and lived not far from me. He had glowing things to say about his experience. I called the clinic and was pleasantly surprised to talk directly with Dr. Amy. We had several conversations before and after I sent pictures with a CT scan (CT scan had been done locally by a dentist I was considering). By the time I showed up to the clinic I was very comfortable and confident in the quality of work I would have with Amy. I knew I had a collapsed bite and TMJ. My teeth were worn down from nighttime grinding over many years to the point that they couldn't be seen when I smiled. As a result, I was self-conscious about my smile but never thought that I would be able to fix the problem of my collapsed bite. I also had headaches. In our meeting, Amy explained to my husband and myself how important it would be to address the collapsed bite not for just aesthetic reasons but for the long term health of my jaw and mouth. We made the decision to do a full mouth reconstruction as advised. I knew it was the right thing to do. I'm so glad I did. I am in the final stages of this work. My teeth are absolutely beautiful and natural-looking. I couldn't be more pleased. Amy is an amazing surgeon and perfectionist in addition to being a lovely caring person. Staying at the clinic is so comfortable. I love all the people here. It's a very unique experience. It's homey. I absolutely recommend Dr. Amy and feel very fortunate that I found her.
Teri Allen
I would make it a "10" if there was a choice. I did not want metal in my mouth. The whole experience has been great and painless. She fixed so much more than I exspected and will save me so much pain in the future. It is worth the trip to Rosarito. I also love her staff. Audie McNeil Oregon
Audie McNeil
I am currently in the process of having 6 implants placed. Dr. Le made it painless without putting me to sleep. I am now in the waiting process before the healing abutments are placed. They have been very good to check up on me. More to come as I progress through the process.
Mike Casey
My veneers are perfect. Dr. Pierce is a great doctor and Pierce Aesthetics is a brand new facility. Very clean. Beautiful.
Pete
The best Dental clinic Ever:) my son loves coming here And even myself. I had my invisalign done here Everyone is friendly, its clean, they are all professional. Khaled was the best! He is funny and sweet! Definitely recommend this place
Lindsay
Dr. Amy KhaJavi is a role model natural based dentist! I came to Rosarita, B.C., Mexico after extensive research on completely metal free dentistry and decided on the CeraRoot ceramic implants. Yesterday after receiving two CeraRoot ceramic implants, I feel well recovered. Dr. Amy and her staff were extremely friendly and helpful in making me feel welcome and answered all of my questions with clarity and professionalism. Today I feel ready to head back to Colorado without pain or discomfort and looking forward to returning in a few months to have the new crowns placed!
Boyd S
This location was recommended to me, I should have not ignored the reviews. This place has had me in circles since Jan 2018. Appointments have been set-up for deep cleaning, wisdom teeth removal, and X-rays. The personnel here forget to put in requests to insurance, they also dont call you to inform you of their mishap. The first mishap was in March, they were suppose to have put in the request for wisdom teeth extraction (which I was told today they dont need). I showed up on time, checked in and wait patiently to be called in. Only to be told there had been a mistake and it had not been requested. Apparently the staff in charge quit and left a mess. I let it slide, who really wants to get their teeth pulled? I was a little irritated but relieved of not having the procedure done. I was told they would be calling me once it was approved, fast forward to today. It's now August 11, 2018 I received a call on Wednesday that they had to do X-rays over. Here I am driving from another city because this place is suppose to be professional, and have good customer service.10:45 a.m. I was not greeted, I had to ask for the sign-in clipboard, was not informed regarding any setbacks. The supervisor poked her head out to ask if I was waiting for someone or had an appointment. Disappeared and didnt get back to me regarding a longer wait time. By 11:30 a.m. I had not received any type of communication, who leaves their customers sitting there without informing them of being behind schedule? I finally gave up and got up, again I felt like I was bothering them by approaching the desk. I kindly informed the staff that I was canceling my appointment with them and wanted to speak to a supervisor. Supervisor was not rude, but again gave the attitude that they didnt care if they kept me as a customer or not. She informed me that she couldn't find the visits, I had made prior. That I didnt need to wait for approval for wisdom teeth extraction, and that she didnt see any "mishaps". Customers choose to drive the distance for GOOD customer service. This was not worth the drive! Poor customer service, poor communication! Don't waste your valuable time at this or any of their locations. Go where you are valued.
Lily
Dr Amy just finished Phase 2 of my dental implant procedure. All went exactly as she said it would. I have had no pain and look forward to having the crowns placed in just a few months. Dr Amy is wonderful. She explains all the details of every procedure, so I have known what to expect. She is very kind and gentle and takes extra care to make certain her patients are well cared for before and after the procedure as well. I have and will recommended her to anyone who needs dental implants. I understand why people come from all over the world to have her attend to their dental needs.
Holly Burgin
If I could give 10 stars I would.. Dr. Amy is an outstanding Doctor and human being, her level of expertise is the highest I have encountered, and her genuine care for the patient is unique, I have had so many dentists work on me before, no one could put me at ease like Dr. Amy, nor did such a wonderful job with my dental work. she made sure to have her full staff be as caring and kind as she is. I went to see her for a tooth implant, which she placed for me, so good her surgical skills that there was no swelling or pain what so ever after placing 4 bone grafts ! I felt no pain and the healing went very well. I can't praise Dr. Amy or her staff enough, she is a gem and I highly recommend that you go see he.
Dr. Nahim Maha
I've been a patient of elite dentistry for over a year. The dentistry was recommended to me for implants. I was so afraid to go but the moment l arrived at the front desk the office personnel set me at ease with their patience and their smiles. When I met Dr Karr and Dr Le and their dental assistances their were no difference. When my implants were finished l decided to let Elite Dentistry take care of all my dental needs. l don't think Elite really know how professional, how caring and loving they really are.
Zelma Neal
Dental work has been my personal nightmare in the past. Dr. Amy and staff completely changed that for me. 3 surgical extractions of failed previous root canals, followed by immediate placements of 3 metal-free ceraroot implants, and not one time did I experience pain. The smoothest anesthetic experience I\'ve ever had as well and so happy with the results. Thanks SO much guys! Well, well worth the trip. Just get here and remember that things move slower in Mexico, so relax and ask as many questions as you need!
Beni Gifford
My view of the robotic assisted dental implant placement system named Yomi. I found it quite impressive, it's a robot after all. The good thing about it, not that Dr. Pierce has shaky hands, but even if he did it wouldn't negatively effect the procedure as the robot prevents the operator from going too far beyond the set parameters. This means it doesn't allow the doctor to drill too deep or off angle. It provides vastly increased accuracy which translates to higher dental implant success rates.
Johnny G
Dr. Amy Khajavi and her staff took incredible care of me while having a root canal extracted, zirconia implant with bone graft and stem cell procedure. My experience was even better than expected and I am very pleased with the results.The staff was very friendly, gentle and accommodating. There was an option to rest several nights with a room and private bath. I would highly recommend Dr. Amy Khajavi to anyone searching for holistic treatment.
Tara La Sarge
My experience with Dr. Khajavi was absolutely amazing. She is very professional and friendly. The implants went in perfectly and I had no problems. After a few hours, I could not even feel them. They just felt a part of me right from the start. They healed up very well over the few months. Then the crowns went on very well. She took a lot of time to make sure the bite was perfect and I am soooo happy that I found her. I would not hesitate to refer people to her and you should not have any hesitations with coming here. Also, her entire staff was great and made me feel like part of the family. I highly recommend her.
Donald Baune