The New Scientist Dec.1981 featured on its cover a daisy head showing the double spiral. The article then went on to discuss the Fibonacci series, showing other examples of the double spirals in nature and comparing them to computer generated double spirals. The writers also postulated an explanation for the way plants' growth illustrates the Fibonacci series in the position and spacing of the leaves
(Phylotaxis.)http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ccJ27ly1_-MC&pg=PA792&dq=Fibonacci&hl=en&ei=-CUxTdCWBIeyceWZ4Rg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Fibonacci&f=false
In 2003, Volkmar Weiss and Harald Weiss analysed psychometric data and theoretical considerations and concluded that the golden ratio underlies the clock cycle of brain waves. In 2008 this was empirically confirmed by a group of neurobiologists Weiss, Volkmar; Weiss, Harald (2003).The golden mean as clock cycle of brain waves. Chaos, Solitons and Fractals 18: 643–652.
In 2010, the journal Science reported that the golden ratio is present at the atomic scale in the magnetic resonance of spins in cobalt niobate crystals Roopun, Anita K.; et al.; Carracedo, LM; Kaiser, M; Davies, CH; Traub, RD; Kopell, NJ; Whittington, MA (2008). Temporal interactions between cortical rhythms. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2 (2): 145–154
Several researchers have proposed connections between the golden ratio and human genomeDNAYamagishi, Michel E.B., and Shimabukuro, Alex I. (2007), "Nucleotide Frequencies in Human Genome and Fibonacci Numbers", in Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Perez, J.-C. (September 2010). "Codon populations in single-stranded whole human genome DNA are fractal and fine-tuned by the Golden Ratio 1.618". Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Science 2 (3): 228-240. doi:10.1007/s12539-010-0022-0
Modern stock traders Technical Analysis used by individuals and multinationals use Fibonacci Ratios for support and resistance levels. These levels exist de facto ie whether by nature or by mass psychology people expect them and the stock prices respond accordingly.
Philosophers – Plato (400 BCE), Agrippa (1500AD), Koestler (1962)
Leon Battista Alberti (1404 – 1472) was an Italian author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher and cryptographer, and general Renaissance humanist often seen as a model of the Renaissance "universal man".
Adolf Zeising, whose main interests were mathematics and philosophy, wrote in 1854 a universal law "in which is contained the ground-principle of all formative striving for beauty and completeness in the realms of both nature and art, and which permeates, as a paramount spiritual ideal, all structures, forms and proportions, whether cosmic or individual, organic or inorganic, acoustic or optical; which finds its fullest realization, however, in the human form."
The Golden Rule is well embedded in the human psyche
Guarantees
Do dentists provide guarantees for workmanship?
No treatment can be "guaranteed", either in terms of its 'cure' or by a length of time
Dentists are skilled professionals who practice with utmost care and responsibility. We cannot always foresee what may or may not happen due to natural causes or unpredictable complications
We at SAS dental discuss with you the prognosis, or likely outcomes of various treatment options, on which to base a final decision
Gum Disease Periodontitis/Periodontal Disease/Jaw Bone Disease
Previously known as Pyorrhoea
Teeth are meant to last a lifetime.
If teeth don’t last it is usually the result of gum disease because here the support for teeth - bone - is lost or “dissolved”.
Of the three most common oral pathologies (excessive grinding, decay and gum disease) gum disease or periodontitis has the potential to be the most dangerous and damaging.
This is because:
- Its insidious nature as in the early stages, it has very few symptoms and in many individuals the disease has progressed significantly before they seek treatment.
- The potential to cause acute pain a swelling
- The loss of function with loss of teeth
- Most importantly its link with serious systemic illnesses
Many people will have a small amount of periodontitis, which gradually increases with age. However approximately 15% of the population will have a significant degree of periodontitis. Some people ( with a family history )are genetically more likely to develop gum disease but anyone can develop it. The destruction of hard and soft tissue gets worse over time and is often seen more severely in the 45+ age group.
Teeth are held in bone by what is called the periodontal ligament. This region is a very important site because germs can easily enter the blood stream from here.
The mouth is the door to the castle called the body.
If teeth are not cleaned properly and bacteria are allowed to multiply then particularly dangerous and nasty germs called anaerobes start to take over. This is when our immune system starts to hear alarm bells and mounts a defence plan
PLAN A
The immune system is responsible for protecting us from foreigners such as microbes and cancers and keeps us alive and living long. If it detects danger it will respond by making more white blood cells and will send them to the danger site to launch a battle. This battle is waged in order to prevent these dangerous bacteria from entering our precious body and causing trouble elsewhere such as the heart and brain. But the battle can be frustrating and very costly akin to two countries fighting a long and very expensive drawn out “chronic” war with much death and destruction. If we ignore the early signs and continue to not clean our teeth properly then the immune system puts into action
PLAN B
This is where bone starts to shrink away from the teeth and the teeth eventually become loose and fall out. This is akin to a country using an atomic bomb to blast another country off the map. The Plan B mission is to remove all our teeth so the gums can heal over and finally provide a more protective barrier to germs. It means false teeth or implants etc. Gum disease in this sense is very much an autoimmune disease (like type 1 diabetes) where the body (immune system) attacks the supporting bone because that area becomes “infested” with anaerobic germs including fungal species such as Candida and Aspergillus species – the body’s immune system now cannot differentiate between self and a foreign body. So far as the immune system is concerned the constantly plaque covered tooth is a “dirty splinter of wood” and must be removed for the sake of the whole body. The best measure for gum disease is prevention but once established there are steps that can halt and even reverse some damage.
The effects of early gum disease are largely reversible with appropriate care.
In the vast majority of cases the progression of gum disease can be arrested with appropriate care.
Management of gum disease becomes more difficult and less predictable the more advanced the disease.
Therefore, the sooner periodontitis is diagnosed and treated the better
Regular dental examinations are important to check for the presence of gum disease
Once this has progressed to periodontitis there is some permanent damage to the ligament and bone that supports and holds the teeth.
Remember: Gingivitisis totally reversible whereas periodontitis is not
Progress of disease:
With ligament and bone loss a space develops between the gum and the tooth called a pocket. The pocket forms a protected environment for more bacteria and the condition progresses. If left untreated periodontitis may cause gum abscesses, facial swelling, tooth loss and worse, initiation or worsening of certain systemic diseases.
Gingival inflammation and bone destruction are most often largely painless
Treatment:
To manage gum disease, the bacteria that caused it must be reduced to a level the body's defense mechanisms can handle. A reduction in plaque not only reduces the bacterial numbers but also the type of bugs in the mouth from the more dangerous anaerobes to friendlier“ mind your own business” aerobes. Thus, as with decay and other diseases what is needed is a change in the environment that caused the problem.
Fixing holes but continuing a high sugar diet and not brushing properly will result in the same disease. This is why medications are not the solutions to many illnesses but only remedies to symptoms of the disease. If the disease is reversible it will only reverse if the environment, in the case of decay – ACID – is reversed.
At SAS Dental treatment is centred around 5 steps:
- Education on the condition, cause and solution
- Achieving the best possible home care see oral hygiene
- Professional cleaning of the teeth above and below the gum line (subgingival - into the pockets) to remove the plaque and hard deposits (calculus / tartar)
- Regular reviews and feedback
- Removal or reduction of risk factors such as:
Smoking dry mouth nutritional deficiencies “selenium has the strongest association with gum disease, with low levels increasing the risk by 13 fold." and "Clearly, low levels of most antioxidants are a risk factor for periodontal disease and infection,"
First Evidence Found Of Link Between Gum Disease And High Alcohol Consumption, Low Dietary Antioxidants 1999. University of Buffalo.
diabetes note importance of finger prick screening
medical conditions particularly involving the immune system stress (an interesting correlation found by some researchers) Peruzzo et al "A Systematic Review of Stress and Psychological Factors as Possible Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease". Journal of Periodontology 78 (8): 1491–1504.
We may also recommend you visit a Periodontist if your condition needs specialist attention. Summarizing, Periodontitis is caused by microorganisms that adhere to and grow on the tooth's surfaces, along with an overly aggressive immune response against these microorganisms. A definitive diagnosis is established by first collecting data on:
Typical warning signs and symptoms such as:
- Redness or bleeding of gums while brushing, flossing or biting into hard food (e.g. apples)
- Bad breath or taste in your mouth (may be metallic)
- Gum recession
- Tender teeth
- Reoccurence of painful, swollen and tender gums
- Loose teeth or teeth that have moved(this usually occurs in the later stages but may also be due to other reasons such as bruxism)
Soft tissues around the tooth by inspection/examination with a probe
Radiographic examination (x rays) to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth
Gum Surgery
See also Laser Gum Surgery
Gum Surgery
See also Laser Gum Surgery
Gum Gingiva
Mucosa
Gingiva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Gums" redirects here. For other uses, see Gum (disambiguation).
Cross-section of a tooth with visible gums, or gingiva
Gray's |
subject #242 1112 |
MeSH |
Gingiva |
The gingiva (sing. and plur.:gingiva), or gums, consists of the mucosal issue that lies over the alveolar bone.
General Description
Gingiva are part of the soft tissue lining of the mouth. They surround the teeth and provide a seal around them. Compared with the soft tissue linings of the lips and cheeks, most of the gingiva are tightly bound to the underlying bone which helps resist the friction of food passing over them. Healthy gingiva is usually coral pink, but may contain physiologic pigmentation. Changes in colour, particularly increased redness, together with edema and an increased tendency to bleed, suggest an inflammation that is possibly due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque.
A diagram of the periodontium. A, crown of the tooth, covered by enamel.B,root of the tooth,covered by cementum.C, alveolar bone.D, subepithelial connective tissue.E, oral epithelium.F, free gingival margin.G, gingival sulcus.H, principle gingival fibers. I, alveolar crest fibers of the PDL. J, horizontal fibers of the PDL.K, oblique fibers of the PDL.
Macroscopic Features of Gingiva
The gingiva is divided anatomically into marginal, attached and interdental areas.
Marginal gingiva
The marginal gingiva is the terminal edge of gingiva surrounding the teeth in collar like fashion. In about half of individuals, it is demarcated from the adjacent, attached gingiva by a shallow linear depression, the free gingival groove. Usually about 1 mm wide, it forms the soft tissue wall of the gingival sulcus . The marginal gingiva is supported and stabilized by the gingival fibers .
Attached gingiva
The attached gingiva is continuous with the marginal gingiva. It is firm, resilient, and tightly bound to the underlying periosteum of alveolar bone. The facial aspect of the attached gingiva extends to the relatively loose and movable alveolar mucosa, from which it is demarcated by the mucogingival junction . Attached gingiva may present with surface stippling .
Interdental gingiva
The interdental gingiva occupies the gingival embrasure, which is the interproximal space beneath the area of tooth contact. The interdental gingiva can be pyramidal or have a "col" shape. Attached gingiva is resistant to masticatory forces and always keratinised.
Diseases of the gingiva
The gingival cavity micro ecosystem , fueled by food residues and saliva, can support the growth of many microorganisms, of which some can be injurious to health. Improper or insufficient oral hygiene can thus lead to many gingival and periodontal disorders, including gingivitis or pyorrhoea , which are major causes for tooth failure. Recent studies have also shown that Anabolic Steroids are also closely associated with gingival enlargement requiring a gingivectomy for many cases. Gingival recession is when there is lateral movement of the gingival margin away from the tooth surface. [1] It may indicate an underlying inflammation such as periodontitis [2] or pyorrhoea [2], dry mouth [2] or displacement of the marginal gingivae away from the tooth by mechanical (such as brushing), [2] chemical, or surgical means. [3] Gingival retraction, in turn, may expose the dental neck and leave it vulnerable to the action of external stimuli, and may cause root sensitivity.[2]
Characteristics of healthy gingiva
Colour
Healthy gingiva usually has a colour that has been described as "coral pink." Other colours like red, white, and blue can signify inflammation (gingivitis) or pathology. Although the text book colour of gingiva is "coral pink", normal racial pigmentation makes the gingiva appear darker. Because the colour of gingiva varies due to racial pigmentation, uniformity of colour is more important than the underlying colour itself.
Contour
Healthy gingiva has a smooth or scalloped appearance around each tooth. Healthy gingiva fills and fits each interdental space, unlike the swollen gingiva papilla seen in gingivitis or the empty interdental embrasure seen in periodontal disease. Healthy gums hold tight to each tooth in that the gingival surface narrows to "knife-edge" thin at the free gingival margin . On the other hand, inflamed gums have a "puffy" or "rolled" margin.
Texture
Healthy gingiva has a firm texture that is resistant to movement, and the surface texture often exhibits surface stippling . Unhealthy gingiva, on the other hand, is often swollen and mushy.
Reaction to disturbance
Healthy gums usually have no reaction to normal disturbance such as brushing or periodontal probing. Unhealthy gums on the other hand will show bleeding on probing (BOP) and/or purulent exudate ( pus ).
Additional Images
See also
- Gum graft
- Head and neck anatomy
- Periodontitis
References
- Gingival Recession - Causes and treatment JADA, Vol 138. http://jada.ada.org. Oct 2007. American Dental Association
- abcdemexicodentaldirectory.com > dental sensitivity Retrieved on August 2010
- Mondofacto medical dictionary > gingival retraction 05 Mar 2000