(1) Gum Infections, Dental Infections was Directly Related to the Patient's Calcium Metabolism
-By Dr. George Meinig, D.D.S., F.A.C.D.
By Dr. George Meining,D.D.S.,
When more supporting bone was lost and the pyorrhea pockets became deeper, the overall conditions and outlook changed remarkably.
The surprise was the number of systemic body changes found to take place. Among them were the considerable amount of absorption of bone; the occurrence or non-occurrence of dental caries (cavities); changes in the uric acid level; and, in addition, changes in the blood and saliva of the ionic calcium level, and its urea nitrogen content.
In time it became apparent the presence or absence of of gum infections was directly related to the patient's calcium metabolism. When the ionic level of calcium in the blood was higher than normal, the supporting gum and bone tended to be absorbed away more easily in the presence of irritation.
At the same time, studies of saliva revealed it to be more alkaline than usual when periodontal disease was active. Another big surprise occurred when the contents of the pus pockets were found to be very alkaline, having a pH as high as 7.7, when dentists
would assume it be acid. The pH of the blood and saliva when normal is 7.4.
One would think that when teeth affected by periodontal disease are extracted there would be some difficulties with healing. Quite the contrary, sockets developed
good blood clots and healed rapidly, without pain or the development of a dry socket.
On the other hand, those cases marked by the formation of the dense bone of condensing osteitis below the tooth's root end proved to be painful, healed slowly, they developed blood clots that easily broke down, and many of these cases developed the dreaded dry socket.
An analysis of the saliva of such patients showed it to be lower in alkalinity and the blood lower in ionic calcium.
Best wishes,
Sung Lee