Medical conditions and oral health

Posted on 9/25/2023 by Barbara Ketchum

Prevailing medical conditions may affect two things about your oral health: dental treatments and the materials used. That is the reason why doctors seek to enquire about your medical history during every consultation.

HIV and AIDS

HIV weakens the immune system of the body. As such, failure to maintain good oral hygiene may predispose the oral cavity to attack. With HIV, gum disease may progress at a fast rate. Among the first signs of HIV in the oral cavity are hairy leukoplakia and oral thrush. Hairy leukoplakia presents as whitish lesions on the surface of the tongue. Another effect of HIV is a dry mouth. A dry mouth is a condition in which the salivary glands produce little or no saliva. Saliva in the mouth works to counteract the acidity in the mouth. Saliva also supplies minerals to the enamel. The effect of a dry mouth is that it increases plaque buildup and brings about bad breath.

Diabetes

Diabetes impacts the health of the gums and teeth. Bacteria thrive in places that have high sugar concentrations. As such, diabetes increases the chances of bacterial infection and tooth decay. Additionally, people with diabetes tend to heal wounds very slowly. In this regard, gum disease and other oral conditions progress at a rapid rate yet take extremely long to heal. Dental treatments such as extraction, root canals, and fillings can be very painful to recover. This is because you may get dry sockets where the blood clot keeps dissolving.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy can be very dangerous especially if you have a seizure while a dental procedure is ongoing. Not only would a seizure damage your teeth, but also the tongue and the lips. Some of the drugs given to manage epilepsy have been known to cause gum overgrowth.

Allergies

It is important to inform the doctor of any allergies that you could have. We have heard of people who are allergic to certain kinds of medications such as penicillin. Other people are allergic to rubber. Rubber has many uses in a dental office and any other medical facility. For instance, gloves have rubber in them. If the doctor is not aware of your allergy, they may not have a way of shielding you from the side effects. Contact us for the perfect and personalized treatment approach.

Serving Salem Keizer Community since 1987

We provide dental services for the entire family from children to older adults. Our entire team of caring Doctors, hygienists and support staff pride ourselves on a high level of patient care.

Using the latest in modern dental technology our services range from sealants to complex implant surgery. Our goal is a comfortable experience for our patients with beautiful results.

Smile more :-) Call today

(971) 600-0211

Located in the heart of the beautiful Willamette Valley.

Convenient hours
Monday–Friday
7am–5pm
Clock icon for Oak Park Dental, Salem Dentist

Map Pin icon for Oak Park Dental, Salem Dentist

3380 Astoria Way NE
Salem, OR 97305-2054

Phone icon for Oak Park Dental, Salem Dentist

(971) 600-0211

Contact Us

Read and Leave a review for Oak Park Dental - Dentist Salem on Google Places

Read and Leave a review for Oak Park Dental - Dentist Salem on Yelp

Read & write reviews

Check out Oak Park Dental - Dentist Salem on Twitter

Watch Oak Park Dental - Dentist Salem videos on Youtube

Check out Oak Park Dental - Dentist Salem on Facebook

Connect with us!

Dentist Salem OR • About Oak Park Dental
Providing modern dental technology and advanced oral health care to give you a comfortable and stress-free dental experience in Salem and Keizer, OR. Call today!
Oak Park Dental, 3380 Astoria Way NE, Salem, OR 97305 / (971) 600-0211 / salemsmiles.com / 11/30/2023 / Associated Words: dentist Salem OR /