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Prions, Viruses, Chronic Systemic Disease, and Dentistry

 

Presented by: William D. Nordquist DMD, MS

Original Publication Date: March 21, 2018

 

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Recent studies are now pointing toward herpesviruses as a critical component of periodontal disease, as well as Alzheimer’s disease. Similar, if not identical, folded-over prions implicated in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) and “mad cow disease” [bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)] are also the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes. To exacerbate an already complicated biofilm mixture, oral spirochetes are reported to be the predominant active bacterial constituent encased within Beta Amyloid(Aβ) in Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. These serious factors weave together to form a complicated web that at least partially explains why Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes have been shrouded in mystery for decades.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recall the key concepts regarding the relationship between oral and systemic disease.
  • Explain the strategies discussed in the seminar to influence patients to prevent chronic disease and alleviate symptoms through oral hygiene and lifestyle modifications.
  • Apply the strategy outlined in the workshop to positively impact patients and promote compliance in preventing chronic disease.
  • Analyze the connection between prions, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, specifically in the context of sterilization procedures in dentistry.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the discussed strategies in achieving long-term patient health and disease prevention.
  • Create a comprehensive outline for understanding of the relationship between oral and systemic health, integrating the concepts discussed in the seminar.

Speaker Bio:

William Nordquist is an Oral Biologist with a Post-Doctoral Master of Science in Oral Biology. He is board-certified by the American Board of Oral Implantology (ABOI) and an Honored Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). He has published numerous scientific articles and books on both the subjects of implant dentistry and chronic diseases as they relate to periodontal disease. Three of his previous books, The Stealth Killer, The Silent Saboteurs, and Chronic Disease Unfairly Targets Women, put forward the relationship between chronic diseases and specific bacteria called spirochetes. He presently splits his time between research, writing, and private dentistry practice in San Diego, California.