Q: Is there a connection between joint disease and gum disease? A: Ongoing studies are looking at the associations or potential associations between gum disease and joint and bone problems such as arthritis and osteoporosis. It’s not clear at this point whether there’s a direct association, but studies are ongoing.

Q: I have been told (by an oral surgeon) that I have erosive oral lichen planus and that short of systemic steroids, there is not much that can be done, as this is a chronic condition. Do you have experience with this type of autoimmune disease and do you treat it? A: When we diagnose

Q: Can periodontal disease make you sick? A: That’s a big question these days, because a number of studies in the last couple of years have indicated strong associations between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and liver cancer. Now studies are looking into brain and kidney issues. The bacteria in the mouth that