C Reactive Protein & Dental Health Connection

X-Ray of Infected Tooth

C Reactive Protein & Dental Health Connection: Failing root canals, Infected teeth, Impacted wisdom teeth.

C reactive protein: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases when there’s inflammation in the body. A simple blood test can check your C-reactive protein level.

The hs-CRP test can help show the risk of getting coronary artery disease.Your health care provider might order a C-reactive protein test to:

  • Check for infection.
  • Help diagnose a chronic inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
  • Learn your risk of heart disease.
  • Learn your the risk of a second heart attack.

A note about CRP tests for heart disease

A high level of hs-CRP in the blood has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. Also, people who have had a heart attack are more likely to have another heart attack if they have a high hs-CRP level. But their risk goes down when their hs-CRP level is in the typical range. The test doesn’t show the cause of inflammation. So it’s possible to have a high hs-CRP level without it affecting the heart. An hs-CRP test may be most useful for people who have a 10% to 20% chance of having a heart attack within the next 10 years. This is known as intermediate risk. A health care provider can determine your risk using tests that look at your lifestyle choices, family history and overall health.

Chronic Inflammation & CRP:

If inflammation lasts too long, it can damage healthy tissues. This is called chronic (long-term) inflammation. Chronic infections, certain autoimmune disorders, and other diseases can cause harmful chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can also happen if your tissues are repeatedly injured or irritated, for example from smoking or chemicals in the environment. Most dental infection fall into this category. A CRP test can show whether you have inflammation in your body and how much.

CRP &Dental foci inflammation:

Low grade chronic inflammation, CAP(Chronic apical periodontitis) leisions  surrounding dead/non vital/ failing root canal teeth can all be  poteintial sources of Chronic Inflammation in the body which can be related to hihg CRP numbers. Activation of T cells(which are a part of our immune system) due to dental inflammation in systemic inflammatory processes (like- Cancer, Heart disease, Arthritis(substance P), autoimmune diseases, neurodegenearative diseases like parkinsons, and Alzhiemers disease) causing elevated levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), also known as RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted). Higher the RANTES Score higher the incidence of chronic oxidative stress related diseases.

Dental Revisions & reduction in CRP score:

A dental revision is a process in which potentially toxic materials and infected teeth are removed and replaced with biocompatible materials specific to each patient’s individual immune system whihc can be tested via Biocompatibility tests. Dental Revisions may include removal of mercury fillings, nickel crowns, old metal crowns and bridges, infected or failing root canal treated teeth, dead/infected teeth, impacted wisdom teeth with silent infections and thorough debridement of bony sites. We use immune boosting protocols that optimize healing response.

We higly encourage our clients to work with team of collaborative providers which include- Functional medicine Doctors, naturopaths, Also getting complete blood work, and functional panels, theromogram reports. We also reccomend to follow up those reports after dental work to see the progress in their systemic health.

References:

https://texasholisticdentist.com/blog/rantes-score/

https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c-reactive-protein-crp-test/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/c-reactive-protein-test/about/pac-20385228